Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

If you work in a school, how far ahead do you plan things such as school trips?

29 replies

Raahh · 10/01/2011 20:32

Am I being totally unreasonable, or is it really o.k to give a weeks notice if a school trip? Asking for the money for it to be given in within a couple of days?

It is the second weeks after Christmas, I had no idea this was coming, and certainly haven't budgeted for it.School trips are usually in the summer term (ds is year 3) £10 isn't much to some people, though, i suppose.

And today it was a letter saying ds will be starting swimming on Thursday. He will need money for this,and new swimming trunks, as he can't wear the bermuda type one he wears when we go (they make him look less skinny than the brief types)apparently.

They are always doing it- 24 hours notice of an end of term party/ dress as a whale day/etc etc...

These things haven't been decided over night, have they?

am probably BVU, and a bunch of teachers will now tell me so....

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

DreamTeamGirl · 10/01/2011 20:36

Oh it drives me mad too!!

I know 90% of tha dates go in months ahead, and yet for some reason they cant tell us whether the play will be on the mornin or afternoon till 5 days before- hello, some of us actually have to WORK outside the home... GRRRRRRR

Original poster

Raahh · 10/01/2011 20:40

Dh is a parent governor- I have told him he has to mention this at the next meeting!

Usually, I don't mind. But there are people at the school far worse off than us, who will be completely thrown by some things.

All I need now is for DD to bring a letter home tomorrow asking me to make a costume or something for Friday assembly, and my week will be complete!!

OP posts:

Ineedalife · 10/01/2011 20:53

No UANBU Dd3 came hom with a swimming letter last wednesday to go on friday, £15 for the coach, 1 piece costume [not bikini] and swimming hat. All within 2 days.

spanieleyes · 10/01/2011 20:56

Two letters went out today, one for a trip in June, the other for a trip in October

Panzee · 10/01/2011 20:56

I work in a school. Sometimes I do trips at fairly short notice, but never ones where money is asked for.
Actually I never run trips where we ask for money at all. Sometimes we ask for a voluntary £1 for the bus, but I never record who has/hasn't given it to me and it's not compulsory. What trip is it?

adcd · 10/01/2011 21:01

I'm a teacher and we normally send a letter home at the start of the year detailing any trips. We also give parents the opportunity to pay for trips in installments throughout the year. Any trips made at short notice would not incur a fee

It seems strange that you've been given such short notice - It can take a while to arrange transport, staffing etc for trips, not to mention collecting in consent forms and sorting out the paperwork (risk assessment etc, contact details, allergies/medical info...). Also our LEA require 2 weeks to okay the trip anyway.

Don't forget that you are not necessarily obliged to pay for trips - if they are part of the curriculum your child should not be excluded from taking part on financial grounds. Speak to the headteacher about it -you won't be the first.

So, no, UANBU about it!

Original poster

Raahh · 10/01/2011 21:10

The trip next week is to Chester, which isn't far from us- ds very excited about it, as it is part of his project on Romans. Think he thinks he is dressing up as a centurian!

The fact transport etc is involved is why I wonder why they can't give more notice. Mind you, the headmaster has a bee in his bonnet about 'over exciting' the children- for example, if the Christmas fair is too early, they will be too giddy for the rest of the term (like dc's don't know Christmas is coming, or something!). Maybe he likes to do things last minute so they are not too distracted in class waiting for the trip? {hmm]

The Romans project is an all year thing- and a trip was mentioned at the end of year 2- but no date as to when it would be. Like i said , most trips are in the summer (which would be a better time for a walk round the walls of Chester, imo!)

OP posts:

ihatethesnow · 10/01/2011 22:11

Raahh that trip sounds fun can I go too? :)

I love Chester

Flowergarden1 · 10/01/2011 22:14

We were given 2 days notice for a compulsory pantomime trip for reception, for which we were expected to pay, and from which they would arrive back at school at 5pm. So much for carefully laid childcare plans!

Goblinchild · 10/01/2011 22:15

The term before as a minimum. Some go out on the Year planner in September.

Original poster

Raahh · 10/01/2011 22:39

I want to go on the trip as well- and would have volunteered to help (but no-one to have dd2). But if i have to MAKE a Centurian costume....[grrr]

That's a good point, re child care- at the moment I am on mat leave, but I know they won't be back until 5pm, so are childminders who do school pick up expected to go back? (I know this is the parents problem and not the school, but if you are given little notice, what do you do?)

OP posts:

mrz · 11/01/2011 17:42

I'm a teacher and quite often museums, theatres and exhibitions send the school flyers of special events only weeks before so if we want to visit we have to inform parents quite close to the actual trip.
I find it really strange that a school can plan trips a year in advance.

Original poster

Raahh · 11/01/2011 19:35

A few weeks would have been o.k- if they had told us before the holidays, for example. I could have added it to the cost of the panto/party/christmas fair But a week before is annoying- and 2 days before for the swimming is particularly bad ( seeing as it assumes that all the boys own proper, plain speedo style trunks rather than swim shorts, for example).

As it stands, he can't go, as he has a verucca (sp)- I'm sure he won't be the only one- but they haven't bothered to ask or check (i went to the teacher myself to ask about this).

it's just a little rant, though. The school is fab at most stuff- and are very brave taking 40 year 3/4 pupils out anyway!!

OP posts:

Original poster

Raahh · 11/01/2011 19:36

I meant he can't go swimming[grin[- a verucca isn't going to stop him marching round Chester!!

OP posts:

mrz · 11/01/2011 20:12

Raahh if I find out about an event 3 or 4 weeks prior by the time it is booked and cleared with the LA it may only give a week or twos notice for parents.

SE13Mummy · 11/01/2011 20:57

I try to give parents as much notice as possible. If I can't give an actual date then I'll probably include something on the termly information letter. It would be along the lines of, "this term we're hoping to arrange for master builder to run a build a Tudor house workshop. The cost will be approx. £5". That way parents at least have some advance warning.

On occasions I've taken children on trips with less than a week's notice but all I've needed is parental consent, no money.

As others have said, it depends upon how far in advance the event booking opens. Trips to places such as LA environment centres, London Zoo etc. can often be booked a year in advance and we do make some bookings like this if the trips have been a success and the same topic is on the curriculum for the next academic year.

Eddas · 11/01/2011 21:11

our school is like this, it drives me mad.

Some things go on the 'dates for you dairy' bit in the newsletter but not many. They also assume you'll just 'know' things, but as a first time parent it would be nice for an explanation on some things.

One of the mum's asked when the back to school date for Sept was, this was in May/June last year and the secretary didn't know I mean really they hadn't planned the back to school date by then?

Hulababy · 11/01/2011 21:19

I work in a primary school. We have a school trip next Tuesday. The letter went out yesterday. Costs about £5 and linked to topic we are doing at the moment.

Trip was intended as did it last year too. Not sure when teachers organised it.

Is a week long enough? I'd prefer longer personally.

Feenie · 11/01/2011 21:28

"One of the mum's asked when the back to school date for Sept was, this was in May/June last year and the secretary didn't know I mean really they hadn't planned the back to school date by then?"

Not for the school to plan - the LEA decide. The information would be easily to hand though.

Original poster

Raahh · 11/01/2011 21:29

Glad it's not just me- feel a bit mean complaining about it, really.
(would be crap in an aibu fight!)

OP posts:

Talkinpeace · 11/01/2011 21:39

DH goes in to schools to do his thing.
Some schools book a year in advance
some a week
there is no rhyme or reason
different schools plan ahead by different amounts

NB School term dates are a tricky one sometimes.
Hampshire held back announcing them till really late one year after having stuffed up the year before (term ended on a Monday and new one started on a Friday - they said they could not predict what would happen. D'uh)

Eddas · 11/01/2011 21:53

I know the school don't plan this. Knowing our school doesn't seem to plan ahead and let you know dates I had found them on the LEA website but knowing our school they add on training days to the beginning of the school year, but the secretary should have been able to say 'the official date is x but we may take training days, they haven't been decided' even if she can't give an exact date. And to be honest I would expect 3 months notice of term dates to be more than enough(from the school POV) many many people have to plan holiday care, how can this be done if you have no idea what dates care is needed?

Maybe i'm not being fair but I do expect more notice than we are given, I personally don't feel a week is enough notice, as per OP, this quite often happens in our school. As op says I would like to volunteer to help on school trips but never get the chance because dates are announced with too little notice to get time off work. I know this is just tough and not something i'd really mention to the school but it is a little annoying.

Feenie · 11/01/2011 22:00

Yes, fair points, I agree with you Eddas.

nymphadora · 11/01/2011 22:03

Used to be a terms notice for inset days

Eddas · 11/01/2011 22:15

oh good

I think schools secretly like to keep dates a secret to see if a parent can handle the pressure It's one of the reasons I joined the PTA so I can get insider info

Flip

1 2