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Residential school trips

38 replies

Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 12:13

DD (7) is going on a residential school trip in March for four nights (Monday morning to Friday evening). We have known that this trip is coming up since time immemorial as it is a regular annual feature of her year (French equivalent of Y3) at her school. I have used the fact that DD is going to be going away on this trip to prepare her to be able to wash herself, pack her suitcase, tidy her stuff etc and she is all set and has been for a while. So far so good.

Last night I went to the meeting for all parents of children in DD's year with the director of the centre they will be staying in, the deputy headmistress and all the teachers in DD's year for an explanation of how the trip works. I was Shock Shock Shock to learn that the children will not be expected to carry their own suitcases, unpack their own things, choose their own clothing, that they will be served at table, supervised for washing etc etc. Some mothers were asking whether the children will get help wiping their bottoms (answer: yes, if required).

These children will all be 8 years old in 2012. What is the point of going on a school trip if they are to be babied all the way?

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Sparklingbrook · 03/02/2012 12:16

That's very odd Bonsoir. The first thing DS (then 8) had to do last year when they got to the place was to make his own bed.

Original poster
Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 12:18

That sounds more like it, sparklingbrook!

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redskyatnight · 03/02/2012 12:20

Are they going to be babied all the way though? I would imagine that the parents' evening featured a fair few parents panicking about their DC being away for the first time and the school would be overdoing the reassurances that they will have lots of help and support etc.

e.g.

  • they will be supervised when washing - well yes, because otherwise none of the children will wash at all week and one child will try to drown another one - this is different to actually washing them!!
  • Choosing clothes - I don't imagine a staff member will be going through picking out clothes for each child - more likely the DC will be told that today they will be doing sporty things so should wear tracksuit etc
Sparklingbrook · 03/02/2012 12:20

Wiping bums though. Were you Shock What does DD make of all this?

Tiggles · 03/02/2012 12:24

DS1 first went on a residential trip in yr4 (he was 8) he was expected to make his own bed (ie put duvet in cover), they certainly took turns laying table/serving their table, made their own sandwiches for lunches, had to carry their own stuff on/off bus etc. I'd be a bit Hmm about it all being done for him. In fairness he struggled with the duvet part (but he has hypermobility as part of his Aspergers so is clumsy to say the least Grin but he did it - cue one proud child).

Sparklingbrook · 03/02/2012 12:26

DS1 (then 11) went on a residential trip for a week. He had one shower, cleaned his teeth twice, and wore the same pants all week. Perhaps a bit more supervision required there. Grin

Lancelottie · 03/02/2012 12:26

Well, I struggle with duvets so I sympathise with that one!

Sparklingbrook · 03/02/2012 12:26

Team work with the duvets Lance Wink

Original poster
Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 12:30

LittleMissGreen - yes, I sort of thought there would be table laying/clearing away etc, carrying of bags, etc. It seems there are going to be waitresses and nannies all the way...

Am now worried about DD coming home having reverted to total dependency!

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Original poster
Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 12:32

sparklingbrook - DD was very unimpressed about the supervision of washing etc - she certainly won't want to walk around naked in front of anyone but her best friends.

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Sparklingbrook · 03/02/2012 12:33

Exactly Bonsoir, I would be tempted to write a note saying 'no supervision with washing required' thanks all the same.

Original poster
Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 12:39

I know... However, I really don't want to be one of those dreadful parents with a huge list of special requests and I do have one that is ultra-important and must be carried out whatever. DD is an excellent sleeper (never, ever wakes up at night for any reason at all) unless she is put to bed too early, in which case she either tosses and turns for hours or wakes up in the middle of the night and cannot get back to sleep. They told us yesterday that the children go to bed at 8.30 pm and are woken at 7.30 am. That is 11 hours, when DD needs 9 hours sleep max. I really must insist that she be allowed to read in bed beyond 8.30 pm or else she is going to be alone in the dark not sleeping. So I think I will not ask for any other other special requests.

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wordfactory · 03/02/2012 12:55

I shouldn't worry Bonsoir.
The teachers may do lights out at 8.30pm but the DC will whisper and giggle for well over an hour.

workshy · 03/02/2012 12:58

I take my brownies away from aged 7 and they have to

make their own bed
wash and dress independently (although I do have them lining up for pony tails as they look a dogs dinner)
set the table
clear the dirty dishes away
wash up
help prepare meals
sweep the main hall
clean the showers and toilets!

they think it's great fun!

LittenTree · 03/02/2012 12:58

An hour? More like 3 if they can! Grin

Original poster
Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 13:01

wordfactory - DD's normal bedtime is 10.30 to 11 pm so even that would be quite insufficient. She needs remarkably little sleep and always has done - she has a knowledge of Paris nightlife uncommon for a 7 year old!

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Original poster
Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 13:03

workshy - I remember doing the cooking at Brownie camp!

While this is a school trip, with all sorts of educational activities, and I wouldn't expect the children to cook and clean or else they wouldn't have time for their outings, I am very Hmm about the amount of service provided!

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wordfactory · 03/02/2012 13:05

Well you can only ask, but I suspect they will struggle to accommodate each and every child's own home routine. And it's kind of the point that the children are out of their routine no?

You could just pop a torch in your DD's knapsack and tell her to read under the covers if she can't sleep.

wordfactory · 03/02/2012 13:06

Also Shock at 11pm.
When do you and DH get any time alone?

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Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 13:08

We're sending DSS2 and DD to the US to summer camp for three weeks this summer so that DP and I can go on holiday to a romantic Sicilian island.

Otherwise - never, but the children don't expect to be entertained just because they are not in bed.

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wordfactory · 03/02/2012 13:11

Oh that sounds lovely. DH and I always go away together but only for a few days. Am very jealous of three weeks!!!

As for the rest of the time, I take my hat off to you having DC around all the time. I guess this will come to me too as my DC approach teendom. But right now I protect the watershed with the verve of Mary Whitehouse.

Original poster
Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 13:15

We do get the sitting room to ourselves in the evening when the DSSs are around - DD tends to hang out with them rather than us when they are around and no doubt gets up to all sorts... I'm completely used to it.

Am still not reassured about DD being left to toss and turn alone in the dark!

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PastSellByDate · 03/02/2012 13:21

Bonsoir:

Sorry - if I understand correctly you are in France. Children are allowed to be children culturally there much longer - starting school the year they turn 7. I have no objection to this as 9/10 year old french children (well girls at least) look like 'girls' not young tramps (as they do in the UK, where many shops insist on selling teenage style clothing from age 8).

So if this is for real - for those mothers reading this - please be thinking about month 5/6 of school Y2 (in England) - and whether emotionally you'd be asking (or feeling the need to be asking) for these things.

Admit I'm kind of Hmm about toiletting assistance at age 8 - but there have been other Mum's posting about bed wetting still for age 9 on residentials - so it is a spectrum of ability I suspect.

Have to admit Bonsoir - I'd just send a torch along with DD so she can read in bed at night. Shouldn't bother other children in room too much (she can always read under covers or turned against wall).

I suspect what will actually happen is dinner will be a buffet and tables will be asked to go and get their food, which will be served from a hatch. I suspect that the cases will be carried up to rooms to stop the children banging/ scraping/ damaging the stairwell. I suspect that actually the children will be asked to unpack just what they need as and when and staff will help them hunt out clean clothes or wash dirty things or air out wet things as and when needed. If you want your child to 'shift for herself', I suggest you tell her that teachers are there to help her, but that it would help the teachers if she could get on with various day to day tasks without waiting for them to say so or help her.

What you should be worried about is whether there will be a buddy system (so students are paired or grouped and ensure everybody is there before actitivites/ journeys) and the school should indicate that they have fully trained, designated first aiders. This is something a lot of schools kind of gloss over, but shouldn't.

Original poster
Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 13:27

PastSellByDate - Children go to school very early in France - in September of the calendar year they turn 3 (my DD was 2.10).

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Original poster
Bonsoir · 03/02/2012 13:28

And no, dinner is not a buffet - it was clearly outlined at the meeting that it was not self-service and that food would be served at table by an adult.

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