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Primary education

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

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Original poster

Residential School Trips - Year 1!

60 replies

JaneEyre1 · 14/03/2012 20:17

Does anyone else out there share my view that Year 1 is too young for a residential school trip? It is only 1 night away but my daughter is only 5 and I just feel it is too young. Everyone I know at other schools in our area says their school doesn't do this until year 3. I seem to be the only one who isn't keen and the head/teachers are implying it's virtually compulsory. The 4 teachers sleep in an adjoining room to two classes, in our school that's 48 pupils in total. If I say no then won't she feel isolated but I feel pressuirsed into this. Would welcome honest feedback. Thanks a lot.

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Hulababy · 14/03/2012 20:20

Year 3 is the first residential at DD's school (3 nights) which seemed early enough and earlier than most of our local schools.

Y1 seems very early. They'll have to deal with far more homesickness and bedwetting, etc. surely?

Original poster

JaneEyre1 · 14/03/2012 20:23

To Hulababy, thanks for your message. I think all the other parents have signed up. I was going to suggest that she could still go to each day and we could pick up as it's local, not sure if the school will allow that.

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IslaValargeone · 14/03/2012 20:29

There is no way my dc would have been ready for a residential school trip at this age. It's far too young, I would not have signed up either JaneEyre.
Compulsory my backside, follow your instincts.

3duracellbunnies · 14/03/2012 20:32

It can't be compulsory as they will need your consent, if you don't give it they can't make her go. Either they will need to find a way to occupy her (probably with yrR or yr2), or you could volunteer to do something 'educational' with her - we did that once for dd and there is a category which means they are being educated elsewhere, so not counted as absent.

I do think yr1 is a bit young, esp as some children will still be bedwetting etc. Wouldn't fancy being staff on that trip especially with only 1 staff:12 children. I think my girls would prob be ok with it, but can see others wouldn't.

Portofino · 14/03/2012 20:34

What does your daughter think? Surely that is the important question? She might have a whale of a time.

BackforGood · 14/03/2012 20:36

I'd be very surprised if you are the only family hesitating. Many, many parents are reluctant to let the Beaver Scouts do a 1 night sleepover, and they are 6 - 8 yr olds. You even come across Cub parents (of 8 - 10.5 yr olds) who aren't keen for their dcs to be away. It does happen in Yr6 at my dcs school too.
I really, really, wouldn't want to take 48 x 5yr olds away - madness I tell you, madness!

yousankmybattleship · 14/03/2012 20:38

I have a DD in year one and there is no way I would be happy to her to go on a residential trip. Far too young in my opinion. I totally understand your feelings.

lou2321 · 14/03/2012 20:38

I am quite laid back with DS1 Y1 having sleepovers at friends houses but I'm not sure I would want him go on a school residential trip yet, its not him really but some of the other boys are very immature and 'naughty' (I know I'm not really allowed to say that as its not PC!). I wouldn't be happy about it really but very difficult if everyone else is and if he wanted to.

Sirzy · 14/03/2012 20:38

4 members of staff to 48 pupils?

If the child is happy to go away then I would be tempted to give it a try but only with a much higher ratio of staff to children.

sunnyday123 · 14/03/2012 20:39

my dd is in year 1 and one of the oldest and there is no way on earth i'd let her go overnight! No chance, she still wets the bed on occasion, gets scared of the dark etc- not a chance !

roadkillbunny · 14/03/2012 20:40

It does depend on the child, my dd, now Y2 would have been fine with this and had a ball so I would have been happy for her to go however I know other children in her class would have struggled, some still would now and also their parents would have struggles allowing them to go (will never forget the look of horror on one Mums face when she found out that a few of us with girls in rainbows had packed them off to an all day event on a coach with all the other rainbow and brownie packs in the area) and that also is quite reasonable, they still are very small children.
What reasons do they give for doing an away trip with such a young year group, our school don't do this until Y5 but Brownies do a camp with 7+. I know I would allow my children to go because I know they would cope well and enjoy but I sure wouldn't want to be a staff member on such a trip!
I thin your idea of taking her for each day of the trip bringing her home to sleep is a very sensible compromise, I would be surprised if the school took issue with it.

3duracellbunnies · 14/03/2012 20:40

Oh and as for feeling left out, as we took dd somewhere else instead, we just made it seem more special and exciting than the actual school trip.

If it is local isn't so bad, and her friends may not really notice, esp if she is there for all meals. The school can't force you to do it. I'm looking forward to seeing how school copes with my 'duracell bunnies', they don't have that nickname for nothing! :o

Original poster

JaneEyre1 · 14/03/2012 20:41

I know my daughter reallly wants to go and I think Portofino is right that she will probably really enjoy it. However, she wants to do a lot of things that she's not old enough to do! It just doesn't feel right at this age, she needs her sleep after a full day at school and I can't see two classes of excited kids simply settling down to a quiet night's sleep. I am going to talk to the Head tomorrow,not looking forward to it. Many thanks for your support and advice.

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Sirzy · 14/03/2012 20:43

Staff will be (or should be) well prepared for the lack of sleep they will have the children will have, and will plan activities for the second day appropriately I would hope.

I have took children as young as 6 on 1 night trips as a youth leader and the vast majority of them are fine and love the adventure

Original poster

JaneEyre1 · 14/03/2012 20:51

I will find out the reasons for the overnight tomorrow, it seems to be something they always do, not a very valid reason on it's own. Lou2321 has made a really good point, it is also about other children and the personalities/dynamics of the group. Feel a bit more confident now about challenging this, I think it is a case of trusting your instincts. So impressed with all your advice and input. I love the "duracell bunnies" name!

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Sunscorch · 14/03/2012 20:52

Since it's local, why not let her go and be "on call" if there are any unresolvable difficulties?
That is if she wants to, of course.
It seems a little excessive to arrange to take her home when she may end up being perfectly happy to stay.

That said, a Year 1 residential is definitely unusual. I know of some schools that do sleepovers at school for KS1 as a sort of warm up for proper nights away in KS2, but nothing like this.

Original poster

JaneEyre1 · 14/03/2012 21:04

I do think DD will be quite happy to stay but she has been known to fall out of bed, bedwet and definitely won't wash/brush teeth very well (last point not as important). Is this part of a new trend that schools are pushing for the children to gain independence by going away earlier and earlier. I know this is a cliche but in other European countries they don't start school until they are 6 yrs. Just seems a terrible rush.

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lou2321 · 14/03/2012 21:07

I personally think it is too young, schools put so much pressure on children and parents at such a young age, most schools wait until Juniors for residential trips, both state and private schools. I really don't see the need at this young age as not every child is ready!

Hulababy · 14/03/2012 21:13

I work with Y1. There is no way I would want to do a residential with them, lovely as they are.

Portofino · 14/03/2012 21:30

FWIW - my employer offers subsidised holidays for kids and sends a brochure twice a year. Dd was curious and was adamant SHE wanted to go. I made her wait til she was 5 and let her go to the seaside for 3 days. I cried. She loved it - really loved it!

If she is HAPPY to go, I really would get over your worries and let her. It is a BIG thing and really good for their development I think. If she doesn't want to/isn't interested, then of course, don't send her.

And we live abroad and dd didn't start Primary til 6.5......She has just turned 8 and was at Brownie camp last weekend. She has done one trip a year since 5 with the holiday company, the seaside, a farm, pony riding for a week. Honestly - she gets so much from it. Comes home brimming with enthusiasm and new skills.....

Feenie · 14/03/2012 21:32

God, no way - my ds is in Y1 and just wouldn't be ready for this at all. He regularly climbs into our bed. Just no!

jo164 · 14/03/2012 21:44

For what its worth there is no way I would let my 5 yr old go on a residential - she has never even stayed with Grandparents for a night on her own, as we have just not had the need. Ours don't go until yr 5 at the earliest thank goodness! I'm pretty sure there are children in her class who would not be dry at night as well.
My niece attends a very small village school, who take all the children from yr R to yr 6 on a residential - she has always gone and loves it! Its probably my issue not my child's?! Don't be forced into doing something you are not comfortable with.

QED · 14/03/2012 21:54

DD is in year 1 and I'm really not sure what I would think about her going on a residential trip (or what she would think which is also important). If all her friends were going I think she'd love it though.

DS who is year 3 now went on a Beaver sleepover for one night last year - I had no problems with that. He's going on a 3 night cub camp in may and is very excited (has been counting down since he started cubs in January )

I have a friend in Germany whose DD started school when she was 6 but went on a three night (I think) trip with Kindergarten last tear, so when she was about 5.5 and loved it.

ggirl · 14/03/2012 21:56

too young !

LIZS · 14/03/2012 21:57

Agree, just because formal education in Europe starts later does n't mean the residentials do. If you decided against it I doubt you'd be alone.

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