Taking KS1 pupils to the cinema? WWYD

[tallulah]

DD (4.6) has come home from school with a letter to say that the school is taking YR, Y1 and Y2 to a local cinema to see Tangled.

I took her to see this when it first came out and she was terrified by the guards and certain other scenes, and spent most of the film on my lap. In addition she has sensory processing issues and hearing loss in one ear which bizarrely mean she gets distressed by loud noise.

Obviously if there are 90 children and presumably 6 adults going there may be a problem if DD (or any of the other 4 yos) has a problem at the cinema. It's not as if there will be enough adults to take out any children who are frightened/ upset/ distressed.

I was going to tell the school that she can't go, but they've obviously been discussing it and she is aware of the trip and looking forward to it. I am quite worried about it but at the same time wondering who on earth thought this was a good idea. I've had 4 children go through primary and have never come across this before. What is wrong with a DVD in the school hall? I will have a word with the teacher, but has anyone else been in this situation? How did the children react? Are they more "brave" with their schoolfriends? (or am I likely to get called out of work to go and get her)

A PG is fine.

Is it? According to the British Board of Film Classification, a PG means 'certain scenes may be unsuitable for children under 8.'

Most schools make sure they only show U films for this reason - isn't there a stabbing scene at the end of this one? I don't think it's the school's place to make this kind of decision, over and above the British Board of Film Classification's warning.

Yes, it means parental guidance. The school aren't making the decision and wouldn't be showing it in school without consent. They are asking for parents to give permission first. That's the only point I was making. They aren't just doing it.

The school have made a decision to have the trip in the first place. It's a decision we wouldn't ask parents to make though - the guidelines are clear, some scenes may be unsuitable for under 8s. It's unlikely that 100% of under 8s in a particular school won't, therefore, be affected. It's not a suitable trip for all under 8 year olds - children will want to go, even if they are likely to be upset, because school trips are fun.

The school are saying, in effect, 'we will be having a school trip for all the emotionally strong children in KS1 - you are of course free to say no if you feel your child is not in this category'. Not fair.

Very well put Feenie, I quite agree. For 6 year olds I'd say they'd be reasonable, but for 4 year olds, whilst they're not doing anything actually wrong I think it's a mis-step on their part.

By contrast our school sometimes shows films in after school clubs, with parental permission. IMO there'd be no problem showing PG films then, even fairly strong ones, because there's true opt-in consent, and a child who doesn't go isn't going to be obviously left out and squeezed into another class or whatever.

Thx Talullah and Honey, I think I will book a hearing test.

Hope DD loves the movie x

Totally agree with Feenie. The school is being unfair to the youngest/most sensitive children and there's no need for it. Plenty of time for cinema trips when they are in KS2.

Oh I don't think they shouldn't go to the cinema, I think that's a lovely idea. But I think they should go to a U film. Most schools wouldn't even show a PG to KS2 children.

I agree about the rating. Our school is doing a u certificate film for KS1, PG for KS2. For KS2 they have said that if parents have any concerns to let them know

My DD2 has seen Tangled many times and loves it but has her big sister to help her with her fears. Not all children will feel like this