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Primary education

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Original poster

Am I being unreasonable? Year 6 residential 30 children 2 staff on trip?

41 replies

daisycat01 · 03/06/2013 18:25

My son left today on a residential trip for 5 days. After watching the coach leave I discovered that one of the teachers wasn't able to go at the last minute leaving 2 teachers to supervise 30 year 6 children. I know thst at the centre they are staying at there will be staff running the activities but the trip there and back involves a ferry journey that only 2 teachers will be supervising??

I feel quite cross that no announcement was made informing us of the last minute change and a little concerned at how 2 teachers can supervise 15 children each?

AIBU???

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clam · 03/06/2013 23:27

I think you're over-reacting. Your child is perfectly safe and it's the school's job to ensure that is so.

juniper9 · 04/06/2013 00:15

I think you're over-reacting too. The school are well within guidelines, and it seems like you're upset simply because you weren't informed. As others have said, the Head doesn't need to ask your permission because you've already signed it over.

You're being very precious.

Jinty64 · 04/06/2013 07:02

Wellthen, I think it's rather arrogant that you think you should have been told this

I totally disagree. I think the parents should have been told. They agreed to send their children away with a certain staff ratio and should have been given the information and the chance to withdraw their child if they chose.

I initially chose not to send ds1 (s/n) on the residential but, after consultation with his class teacher, who felt he could deal adequately with his needs, I let him go. If I had discovered, as the bus left, that this teacher wasn't going I would have been furious. In fact, i feel this last minute change of plans invalidates parent consent.

You are not being precious.

PastSellByDate · 04/06/2013 09:41

daisycat01

My DD1 went on a trip with a similar ratio in year 4 and with similar reasons - but please don't forget that PGL staff (or adventure centre staff) will also be on hand. In fact they also had volunteers and work experience people with them - so they were incredibly well supervised and had a great time.

HTH

Wellthen · 04/06/2013 19:03

So is this about emotional care rather than safety? In which case why is 1 to 10 better than 1 to 15? Still quite a large amount of kids....although half the amount they would usually be dealing with.

You make it sound like these teachers have never dealt with excited or upset children before. I'm assuming the staff have been on residentials before? I think I would understand more if you could give an example of something that might happen that 2 staff couldnt deal with.

ubik · 04/06/2013 19:16

How old are they? 10? 11?

Really they will be fine. They may even learn some independence and personal responsibility.

Shoesoffatthedoor · 04/06/2013 19:27

My DC have been away on loads of residentials between them and I've never asked the schools how many adults have been going.
I've trusted the schools to make the right decisions about numbers especially as the residentials tend to be to the same places each year ie yr 5 always go Scotland, yr 6 always go Wales and so on.
I like to think that so much organisation and risk assessment goes into each trip that the last thing a school wants is for something to go wrong due to something they could have avoided in the first place.iyswim

pooka · 04/06/2013 19:34

Dd is going on a residential trip next yr in year 6.

I've signed and paid. It occurs to me, reading this, that I've no idea what the child:adult ratios will be. I didn't think to check - but then I do actually trust the school and staff to have the pupils' safety and their own best interests in mind. I can't imagine that any school would put themselves in the position of recklessly or foolishly taking more children than they can handle.

I don't see what purpose, good or value there would have been in announcing changes before coach set off. It probably equally didn't occur to the head that it warranted a fanfare.

BeQuicksieorBeDead · 04/06/2013 19:37

The coach driver should not count in the ratio - they are not responsible for anything apart from driving. They wouldn't normally be briefed on needs of the group.

1:15 is.high ratio but legal. If the residential venue iss pgl or similar there are loads of trained staff on hand all day and night. The first aid is generally good and I would trust their staff with behavioural issues. They are in the main very experienced.

I am very interested in the idea that staff get paid to go on residentials - this had never happened in my experience! Parents often assume I get paid for a sleepless weekend, and then dont bother to say thank you or moan about the coach being five minutes late. I love going on them and children tend to be very well behaved. Try not to worry.

TooManyButtons · 04/06/2013 19:39

DD went on her first residential trip with school in year 3. I can honestly say it didn't even cross my mind to ask about the adult:child ratio. Schools do these kind of trips every year. I'm sure he'll have a lovely time.

sinclair · 04/06/2013 19:46

DS is on one this week and reading this I realise I have no idea who is even on it with him - CT I assume and a LA who supports a child with a statement but otherwise... who knows.

But I trust the school which is why I haven't bothered to find out - and am lucky as DS (11) is relatively sensible (that could so come back to bite me) and independent/resiliant. DD on the other hand who has LDs would need the reassurance of a familiar face - but school knows that and in her case would make sure we all knew the staff involved.

The real question is OP is what would you have done differently had you known? If you wouldn't have sent DS, or of course if DS finds the set up distressing and you think prior knowledge could have helped ease that, then UANBU at all. Otherwise it is nice to know not need to know IMO.

Munashe · 05/06/2013 16:28

I really don't see what the fuss is about. When the children arrive at the residential camp, the stuff there will take over the activities so why more teachers??? Just lining and sitting with them on the bus and head counting to make sure everyone is there??? The teachers don't go on a residential trip to teach, that's left to the centre to provide the fun.

Its even better on a ferry, just out of the coach and straight onto the ferry lounge, no road to cross. Even a pedophile would find it hard to snatch a child on a ferry. Year 6 are not babies, most will be going to secondary school on their own in September. I have been on the ferry several times with children and they are left to just wonder on their own. Its only when they are leaving, a head count is done. A little annoying for us passengers when they are just running riot, but hey hoo they are kids going on a fun trip.

Munashe · 05/06/2013 16:30

Sorry meant I have been on a ferry with children on school trips who are just left on their own to roam around. The teachers aren't going to keep a hook on them.

lljkk · 05/06/2013 16:34

I feel very sorry for the teachers, DD's school trip had 4 adults for 30 children (same age). DD said they they all tried hard to drive the adults batty.

MadeOfStarDust · 05/06/2013 16:51

I feel sorry for the teachers too - one of them will be up all night dealing with the homesick....

We had 3 on the last Y6 res trip - and the only time it was an issue was when a child broke their front teeth on the canoe landing on the last day - it was a SN child and their helper (one of the 3) could not drive - so they and a teacher had to go to the local casualty.

Another teacher from the school was called to help with the trip back (only 1 hour 20 away) as they were much longer than expected at the hospital

kernowal · 05/06/2013 19:39

School parties tend to get sent to one end of the Isle of Wight ferries to keep them out of mischief so they can't upset the other passengers. They would be hard pushed to come to any harm on those boats as the coach drives on, they go upstairs to the lounge and have to come straight back to the coach at the end of the trip.

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