Y5 residential trip.

[LynetteScavo]

I was expecting a meeting for parents before the trip, but we've just been given medical emergency forms to complete, and a clothing list. No mention of a meeting.

Is this normal?

No, its very poor practice. In our LA you have to have at least 1 parents meeting for any residential trip.

When are you going? If its a while away I wouldnt worry. If its soon I would simply phrase it like this 'Here's my medical form. When will the parents meeting be?' to the most senior member staff in year 5.

It's in four weeks time, after half term, so meeting needs to be in the next three weeks. I'll ask the secretary. As DC are in before and after school club every day, I never see the teachers.

Did you have a meeting initially, to introduce the trip?
In our school there is a meeting, slideshow, etc to introduce the trip, provide costs, give details of accomodation (again, slideshow), outline activities, adult to child ratio etc.

Letters and then given out and parents fill in reply slip and return to office with deposit if they wish their child to go.

There are no more parents evenings, only further letters detailing kit list, travel arrangements, emergency details etc.

We have a meeting at the start of the year where the residential is discussed; photos/slide show of the trip, general information on activities. No further meetings thereafter though. Been the same for each residential trip, from Y3.

No, no meeting at all.

We have been given the web address and emergency contact number of the center they are going to.

The letter states departure and return times and which staff are going, so I guess that covers it.

When DS1 went on a residential in Y7, the meeting covered everything in minute detail, including how much his toes (etc) were insured for , and exactly what PGL suveniers would be on sale.

No meeting at my DD's school for their residential.

I'd have prefered one though.

A bit crap imo if they dont have one.

It may be worth asking around other parents (those without older ones) and asking if they would like/was expecting a meeting - and go as a group to request one as it sounds like they cba and I reckon if you just request one on your own you will be fobbed off.

Our school hosted a presentation by the activity centre manager who took Q+A's from parents.

We were directed to the website too which was very informative.

DSs school don't have a meeting, might have been useful I guess, but DS1 has been for the last 2 years and it all just seems to happen with a couple of letters sent to parents.

I am surprised there isn't one as it is launched but wouldnt expect another one later on. Our school has an open door policy though so if individuals can go in and discuss matters whenever they like. Rest is sent by email or letter.

What does open door policy really mean? The HT always refers me to class teachers, who are constantly unavailable. (I do work from 8.30am until 3.30pm) The deputy head is brilliant, always has time to listen and always cares. I have so many pent up little things like this that I'm now not making the effort to meet with deputy head as I know I will cry on him.

No meeting at all for dd's trip - had never occurred to me that they might have one, tbh. We got a note a few months earlier saying that we could pay in weekly if we wanted to save up for it (though not a price at the same time, which would have been helpful!), then about 3 weeks beforehand a letter to sign up & kit list / medical form / details of the centre.

They run the same 2 trips alternate years and being a small village I think you're just expected to know what is going to happen

DDs junior school didn't have any meetings before their yr5/6 residentials - just letter/form/clothing list. Why do you need a meeting? - meetings are often difficult for parents to get to whatever time they schedule them for. If anything wasn't covered by the letters we'd have just asked (by whichever medium of phone/letter/in person we could)

Why do we need a meeting? I can see that information wise we don't need a meeting...just like we don't really need to have parents meetings twice a year, or ever meet their class teacher. Most things can be done by letter.

Tell me about meetings being difficult. I work and have 3 DC, and a DH who gets home late. But I would make the effort for a meeting like this, especially as I have only met his teacher 3 times (once when I made in initial meeting to introduce myself, once at parents evening, and once when he arrived at school at the same time as me and I talked to him in the car park).

What else do you need to know, that you don't already know ?

x-posted, but you've kind of answered your own question "I can see that information wise we don't need a meeting"

All we really needed was the dates and cost of the trip.

They probably don't "need" to take a cuddly toy or any spending money as suggested in the letter.

I will be going into school to ask about bedtimes, and how strongly they are enforced, what insurance is in place, what activities the DC will be doing, and will they still go ahead if there is heavy snow, extreme cold, are jeans and a shirt acceptable as "smart" for mass, under what circumstances would you contact us? (ie sprained ankle, threw up in the middle of the night, crying for mum) will the DC be told what to do if they wet the bed? I would also like to know what food will be provided, (info on food was provided when DS1 went on his Y7 trip) but DS2 probably won't eat any of it anyway. He will go white and pale a say he feels ill, but won't actually eat food if it is touching another food. I could quietly mention at the meeting that a chocolate biscuit or would cure this (eating nothing but chocolate biscuits for a couple of days wouldn't kill him, but would keep him going). - For the record we don't namby pampy him with food, he's a middle child, but I know how to stop him getting ill.

These are 9 year olds, some of whom will be away from their parents for the first time.

LynetteScavo - just that parents are welcome to go and chat to teachers/Head/whoever before or after school for a few minutes. They are always around. Or we can email school and the message is passed on to the relevant staff/Head, or call.

I don't really see the need for a pre trip meeting but then we see the teachers around a lot, I can't imagine having only ever met DD's teacher 3 times this year.

Actually we did have a pre trip meeting when DD went on a residential with Brownies. TBH that was just the same as the advance trip launch meeting we have at school in the sense of what information was given out. It only told us about activities, etc. though - not really what you are talking of, like bedtimes, etc.

From the residentials DD have been on I would assume things like

• bedtimes are flexible, probably later than at home, enforced in that lights go out at a set time but if children are in dorms they are bound to be talking beyond that for a while.
• get what is put out pretty much, varies what they have, they will be offered it and probably not much in way of alternatives though will be sides, etc to eat from too. Do school know of his difficulties with food? If so they will try to accomodate as best as possible.
• activities will no doubt go ahead wherever possible; if heavy rain/snow they may vary accordingly
• cuddly toy will be optional and not essential
• spending money again will be optional, though nice to have
• contact would be same as if at school, though the child actually talking to you would be discouraged where possible as this generally would only make matters worse
• insurance will be standard school trip insurance; its essential for them to have it, its not optional.
• does DS wet the met ordinarily? If this is likely, tell school. Also speak to him about what he needs to do - pack plastic bags for wet clothes and also pack spare pants/PJs - and tell him to talk to a teacher; they will be discrete
• clothing list normally gives examples, but you may need to ask about the jeans for mass direct as not one I have come across

I think as you have some specific queries, esp the food, you need to make an appointment to speak to a teacher individually. Many parents would not have the food issue so not generally covered in a meeting ime.

Wouldn't a lot if that stuff be better added to his form? Otherwise the teacher is told in quick succession that jonny will only eat chocolate biscuits and Freddy has to have a shower first thing in the morning and Alice still needs help brushing her hair. And they end up not knowing which child needs what.

There's no form to hand in for special info.

Should I write a letter?

Definitely - just to be sure that they know exactly what to do. Your ds has some specific needs that they may not be aware of particularly with the foods touching. When we took yr 3 & 4 away, part of meal times were that the children served each other so that wouldn't have worked at all for him. Hope that makes sense.

No meeting for primary PGL, there was for senior school week in Germany.

Didn't tell us anything useful. Scouts don't have parents meetings for camps. Brownies and guides do.