Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

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

Flip

Original poster

Residential courses - what age?

19 replies

mejon · 12/05/2014 18:00

Can I ask what ages your DCs have gone on outward-bounds type residential courses with school? Usually the yr5 & 6 pupils in DD1's school go every other year so that everyone gets a chance to go once before leaving for secondary school. For some reason this year we've just had a letter home this evening inviting Yrs3-6. DD1 is in Yr3 but isn't actually 8 until August. My feeling is that she's too young but I wouldn't want her to be the only one not to go so I'm wondering if I'm being PFB or not (admittedly the peace and quiet would be nice ). Do 7/8yr olds normally go on such trips (this one is 4 nights)?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Heifer · 12/05/2014 18:17

DDs school only go in yr 5. 4 nights to Manor Adventure (used to go to PGL). No other year has residential trips at all.

Personally I wouldn't have wanted my DD to go away for 4 nights in yr 3.

Wonder why they have suddenly changed the criteria? perhaps not enough of the year 5 or 6 have taken up the offer?

OublietteBravo · 12/05/2014 18:21

DS is in year 3 and would happily go - he's already been to PGL twice.

ggirl · 12/05/2014 18:22

Some 7/8yr olds will love it , others won't be ready.
MY ds wouldn't have been ready , he's going this yr and he's yr 6.
DD would have been happy to go but not sure I would have been ready...she did go to brownie camp at age 8 though..was fine.
So you're not being PFB , you know your child.

Martorana · 12/05/2014 18:24

Some will be ready, some won't. It's not about whether you are ready,it's about whether they are!

ladygracie · 12/05/2014 18:27

Both of mine did in Year 3 for 2 nights and absolutely loved it. I have taken year 3 away for 2 nights and all except 2 stayed without any issues at all. I teach year 3 this year & I would say that very few of them (maybe 2 or 3) would be able to cope with one night never mind two. So I'm sure she won't be the only one not going.

TheOneAndOnlyAlpha · 12/05/2014 18:28

Year 4 here for 4 nights. The kids love it - it's the parents that worry!

BackforGood · 12/05/2014 18:30

Mine went right at the beginning of Yr4 (Sept) and then again in Yr6. I mean, all the year group went, not just individuals. I think it depends on the child though, and also on the residential. The Yr4 one was only 2 nights/3 days and it was made into quite a 'thing' when the previous year went each time, so most were really excited to be going with all their classmates. I wouldn't be so sure about a few Yr3s going with older children though (although all mine went with cubs....)

Original poster

mejon · 12/05/2014 18:42

Thanks all. Not sure why they've all been offered a chance this year. It's a very tiny school and we're fighting to keep it open so I wonder if it's to give them all a chance to go off together before it's too late. I'd imagine the opportunity will rise again in yr 5 or 6 at another school so I'll see whst her other year-mates (all 2 of them!) are planning on doing first.

OP posts:

dixiechick1975 · 12/05/2014 18:46

DD has just come back from 2 nights at PGL with brownies. She is 8 yr 3 but some yr 2 7 year olds went.

All had a great time and clearly v well organised.

papooser · 13/05/2014 15:01

Ours (Y3, so 7/8) went this year for 2 nights and 3 days. About a third of the class chose not to go - especially some of the younger ones. The ones who went had a fantastic time. Four nights does sound like quite a long time though - would there be the possibility of her going for maybe two nights if you're unsure?

CMOTDibbler · 13/05/2014 15:05

Ds's school start with 1 night in y2, 2 in y3, and get longer with time

Xihha · 13/05/2014 15:45

DS's school do it in year 5, DD's school go in year 3 then again in year 6

changejustforyou · 13/05/2014 16:52

1 night year 1

Groovee · 13/05/2014 16:54

My childrens school take them in P7 when they are 10/11.

But schools I have worked in have started as early as 1 night in P1 to P3 and others are P5/6/7.

littleballerina · 13/05/2014 16:57

Mine did aged 8. All loved it! They've done it with cubs and brownies as well as school.

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 13/05/2014 17:01

DD first went away with the school when she was in Yr4 ( 3 day trip to an educational facility in France) She was fine and I had no worries about sending her, but her brothers wouldn't have been the same at that age. It's down to the individual child. FWIW only about half her class went. Plenty of other children weren't ready to go away at that age.

Her school also does a 3 day trip to a Victorian Manor in Yr 5, that was more popular (only 5 hours away) and they do trips to Paris and Cyprus in Yr6 (can't afford both, so DD will go to Cyprus like her brothers)

clux73 · 13/05/2014 17:30

My Yr 4 DD has just been on a 3 day residential. She's 8. They all absolutely loved it
They go again in both year 5 and 6.

mrz · 13/05/2014 17:39

I've taken 8-11 year olds on week long residentials it depends on the child rather than age

exexpat · 13/05/2014 17:43

At DD's school they start with two nights at PGL in year 4 (so aged 8/9), working up to a whole week in year 6. DD loved it so much that last summer she went off on a 7-night PGL stay by herself in the summer holidays, aged 10.

It depends on the individual child, but if at your DD's age you don't feel she's ready or she's nervous about going, there is no shame in turning it down. It's a bigger issue when it's year 6 and it's more of a leaving-junior-school rite-of-passage for the whole class.

Flip