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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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pinktrees · 14/03/2012 22:02

My DS is in Y1. I would not be interested in what anyone's thoughts were on a residential other than my own. It would be an absolute non negotiable NO.

Llareggub · 14/03/2012 22:03

My DS is 5 and in reception and I have no doubt that he would absolutely LOVE to go away for a school residential trip. I'd struggle to get I'm home I think, but quite honestly I think that there is very little need to go away at such a young age.

simpson · 14/03/2012 22:10

too young.

My DC school do not have a residential until yr6 (5 nights in IOW)

Personally I think a couple of nights in yr4 would be good too.

jubilee10 · 14/03/2012 22:27

Ds3 is 5.8 and, with two much older brothers, used to doing things that the others didn't do at his age. I would not let him go anywhere overnight without me. IMO too young.

morethanpotatoprints · 14/03/2012 22:29

My dd's school only do residential in y6 and she won't be going as her brothers before her didn't. I used to work with children in holiday settings and personally believe that teachers are not trained to care for children outside the classroom. I am also a qualified teacher so no disrespect intended. I know I may be ott but just the way me and dh feel about this.

jo164 · 15/03/2012 09:51

Morethan... I am also a teacher - and a Mum - truely interested to know what 'extra training' to you think we need to look after children out of school hours? I can appreciate your concerns over a 22yr old NQT with no experience taking children away, but the majority of primary school teachers are women, who have their own children - so presumably some of these would be going on school trips? I worry much more about incidents like the awful road accident reported yeaterday, rather than the level of care from the teachers - who in my children's school would be great - although there is not a chance she is going on a residential at age 5!

Hulababy · 15/03/2012 10:42

Where are they going by the way and what will they be doing? How far away is it?

pigsinmud · 15/03/2012 12:23

Does seem very young. At my dd1's school they go away for one night in year 3 and then 3 nights in year 4. My boys were at a different primary school and their first residential trip was in year 5 for 2 nights.

I think dd2 could cope with 1 night away in yr1, but dd1 and my 2 boys would not have liked that.

morethanpotatoprints · 15/03/2012 12:59

jo164.
Children behave differently in different situations and I personally feel that teachers (some) are not able to accomodate, cope with or be completely in control under different situations than the classroom. I do agree though part of our reason for not allowing school residentials is as you say, accidents outside the responsibility of teachers/ schools. I apologise for this over sight and assure you no disrespect was intented to the majority of teaching profession. I am just vary over protective and cautious when it comes to my children. I know incidents are few but one is too many imo.

crazymum53 · 15/03/2012 14:03

My dds school had a one night residential trip in Y2. They only were about 25 miles away from home. Children were well looked after and they had made good provision for children's needs (including medical needs etc.). The children did not get much sleep though and dd was very tired but happy when she returned home.
However it was stressed by the school that it was NOT compulsory and a suitable alternative was provided for children who did not want/ could not afford to go on this trip.

LeeCoakley · 15/03/2012 16:24

No. No. No. Absolutely no reason for the school to do this either. Dd1 would have loved it, independent with a large circle of friends to have fun with; dd3 would have hated it, still in nappies at night and no close friends, would have been thoroughly miserable.

LeeCoakley · 15/03/2012 16:28

And the teaching staff need their heads examined for 'volunteering' to go with them. It's exhausting being in the classroom for 5 hours with all the demands on your attention, I can imagine that the care for 24 hours would be jaded at best. But that's just how I feel at present after a hectic day with yr 2!

RueDeWakening · 15/03/2012 23:02

I'm surprised the ratio is only 1:12. I run a Rainbows unit and our ratio outside of the meeting hall and for sleepovers is 1:5 minimum.

Personally I wouldn't want my DD (currently Yr R) going on a residential at that age, mostly because I know she wouldn't sleep well/at all and the fall out would be horrific.

ShazGriff · 15/03/2012 23:27

Too young, in year 1, for my DD the only place she can sleep over is her Nans or aunties house!

Kerryblue · 16/03/2012 12:19

My dd's school did this in year 1 and 2. One night in a nature type place about 20 miles away.

She went, she loved it! In fact all the children went, including my best friends son who was in pull ups at night. They were so discrete about it, it really was not an issue.

If your child is up for it, I don't see why not tbh

Greythorne · 16/03/2012 12:28

No
Just no

It cannot be compulsory.

Just say no if you / your child do not fancy it.

You are the parent. You are ultimately in charge.

jalapeno · 16/03/2012 12:50

I would say no. I don't think DS would want to go actually, he's never been on a sleepover (except rarely at grandparents).

Is this an all girls school? I can see that year 1 girls are starting to get more independent and love sleepovers and stuff, (I would have loved to go at this age!) but you'd have to be bonkers to take loads of 5 / 6 year old boys away for the night, surely?

kipperandtiger · 17/03/2012 02:56

too young. Not compulsory, I hope?

seren82 · 17/03/2012 10:15

I run a Rainbow unit too and we had a sleepover recently in the hall where we meet. It was on a Saturday before a week's holiday and we only took 11 girls. The girls arrived at 5pm and left at 9:30 the following morning.

We had to have a ratio of one to four adults to girls plus one extra leader in charge. There is no way that we could have handled 48 girls with the same number of adults! I would say no on that grounds and definitely don't feel pushed into it.

seren82 · 17/03/2012 10:16

On those grounds...

kensingtonia · 17/03/2012 11:35

My DD did go on a residential trip in year 1 (aged 6) BUT it was a small mixed age group - most of the children were older and she had her older sister there as well.

It sounds like an insane idea if they are all that age and the teacher ratio so low. I think a lot of children that age would have trouble settling at night, getting organised with toothbrush, clothes etc. No one is going to get any sleep. Have they done this in other years?

Bossoftheschool · 17/03/2012 13:20

If they're only taking 4 adults then their adult:child ration is wrong. For 48 Year 1 children they need at least 6 adults and that does not account for any children with specific needs who may need 1:1

Bossoftheschool · 17/03/2012 13:20

Ratio, not ration!

BabyGiraffes · 17/03/2012 20:26

My dd is in Reception, summer born, shy, and young for her age. Can't predict next year but I am pretty sure I would not let her go at 5. Luckily her school doesn't do residential trips until year 4 or 5. Yr 1 seems far too young.

changejustforyou · 17/03/2012 21:01

DC1 went in year 1 with mixed y1+y2. Most went , not heard of any problems. 1 parent took child back home for the night (planned in advance)

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