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

[Raahh]

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....

We can plan some things well in advance others we don't know about until near the date so can't give notice. It would be a pity if children had to miss out on these experiences simply because it is short notice ... wouldn't it?

I agree with mrz. Because we try and work in a flexible way, following children's interests, we don't plan too far ahead. We try and give 4-6 weeks notice where possible, although if it's a trip which has no cost involved, or only a pound or so, then the notice may be shorter.

If we are asking families to send things in (like photos etc), I try and give at least a week's notice.

My dd's school is terrible about lack of notice - e.g. 3 days to produce a costume for the Christmas play etc.

I just wish schools would plan their science weeks either a year in advance or NOT on National Science week.
DHs clones are not ready yet!

YANBU, especially about the swimming which they must have known about well in advance.

My headteacher expects all class trip dates to be in at the start of the year, and letters are expected to go out something like 3 weeks in advance. Some trips do come up later especially things like theatre trips, but there's no way we would ever ask for £10 in a couple of days time.

Small local trips with no cost involved could be at fairly short notice though, but we try to let parents know in advance if they need to provide a packed lunch or anything.