Year 6 residential, what do your schools do with the children left behind?

[auntyentropy]

Most of the DC in year 6 are going but some (about 10) aren't, for financial/cultural/SEN reasons.

What would you expect the ones left behind to be doing?

At our local primary school they go into the infants as 'helpers' - most really enjoy it. There just isn't the staffing to ensure that those left behind (usually a handful) can do 'fun' activities.

Put into year 5 at ds's school, but seeing as the residential is only Fri-Sun, it's only one school day that those who don't go (very very few) would be doing that for.

When I was a student teacher, I got to have the 9 children who didn't go on the year 6 residental trip. Was a great week (can't remember what we did but it was a while ago)

Ours are given a project for the week - basically a theme with some planned activities round it, some of them being the usual sort of research activities, others being "build a ..." "cook a ...", "do a survey on ..." plus some joining in with eg Y5 PE and helping teachers, eg reading with reception children, helping with displays. It is done in a way that they have some independence to work together to achieve an aim and some supervision by Y5 teachers, student teacher, head/deputy, SENCO, TAs, anyone who they can spare for an hour or two whilst trying not to give the impression they are just being babysat. They seem to really enjoy it. Usually only a handful of children (2-4?)

My DD isn't going on the Y6 residential. She went on the Y4 one but this time it's much more physical stuff such as caving, abseiling etc and with her SN she just couldn't do it, and wouldn't enjoy it. She's staying behind with about 5 others from her year. They're having a week of fun such as swimming at the pool with slides etc, the big kids soft play, zoo, lunch out, ice skating.

DS was adamant he doesn't want to go on next year's PGL residential - he hated it when he did it in Yr5. I think they just go in with a younger class - perhaps I should ask!

Residential are not optional at my middle DC's school, so never a problem as no-one remains in school.

Work with the year 5 classes. Very few don't go though.

It's only our year 5 that get a residential at our school. It is very unusual that any don't attend but last year in DD class, 1 girl didn't want to go, so she was put in with the year 4s for the 4 days the rest of the year we off.

They go in y5 at DC's school. The ones who don't go just have normal lessons.

DS went on the residential and hated it, I wish I'd never sent him.

Our school has them doing cooking/baking for a picnic, off to local museums, river walking (well nearly empty stream walking really) to a rural pub for a lemonade and chips, building go-carts for a race, gardening in the school garden etc...

No sitting in year 5 with a book for a few days.

My DD wasn't allowed to go last year. They did lots of fun stuff, exploring the local area, making their own packed lunches, even went bowling one day. When in school they did special craft stuff.

Only about a third of DD's year group went on the Yr6 residential last year as it was ridiculously expensive for 3 days, 2 of which included 3 hours travelling. The 36 kids who stayed behind had a great time doing a big creative project, cooking, playing outside, etc. DD certainly had a ball and we had the money (and then some!) for all 4 of us to spend a week camping in Sussex in high summer!

Only one hasn't gone on DS's this week, I suspect on cost grounds. Not sure what she is doing instead, I hope they've given her something nice to do.

At our school almost all the children go every year. The odd child doesn't go every few years, usually not for financial, cultural or SEN reasons but because they worried about going away and their parents don't think they are ready. There are no fun activities laid on for them. They just sort of help out around the school and do ad-hoc things.

I think it's great that schools where a lot of children don't go, make the effort to lay on some fun activities.

I think if our school did that a lot of children probably wouldn't choose the residential, though! All the fun without the discomfort of being away from home for several nights!

It's unusual for kids not to go - one this year, I know of one two years back, not sure about last year. They "help out with the Receptions" according to DD. I don't know if that's the default or if it depends on the child - I think some kids enjoy looking after little ones more than others!

The school I work at provides trips to cinema, bowling, museum when there are a couple left behind they also get them involved in nice activities within the school too. The trip is paid for from fundraising efforts from the whole class and these activities are funded by the children's share of the fund.

Its extremely rare for kids not to go in our school. All 32 of them are going this year, and all went last year - the rare one who doesn't is never for SEN or financial reasons, as both would be covered.

The odd one who has stayed has helped out in lower years, or joined in with Y5 - there aren't enough kids staying, or staff to cover them, to put on special activities.

Our residential (y5 & y6 together) is over a long weekend next to half term. So no school missed (they go late afternoon Friday and return Monday evening. DD1 went in Yr5 but didn't enjoy it (friendship group issues abound), so didn't go in Yr6. It wasn't an issue because those left behind weren't rattling around school.

DD and DS are both in year 5, and are not going on the residential trip due to SEN (DS) and also financial reasons. Feel really guilty about it, not sure what they will be doing in school or how many (if any) of the other children in the class arn't going. We will be doing nice things after school to try and make up for it though.

All these children not going because of SEN, presumably this is parental choice not the school not letting them go?
Also as someone who works in year 5, I am glad our school don't send all left behind children to us, although sometimes they may join in for P.E.

They went to a safari park, had a picnic in the woods, helped out and made bread at a local bakery, in fact it sounded so much fun ds said be won't be going in the next residential!

I've never known any be left behind at our school, some may wish they had though, ds came back from his today and announced that the staff had accidentally fed beef chili to the vegetarians, three of whom are Hindu, I was pissed off, but I think some of the other patents are understandably very upset, as were their kids.

Ours is a Y8 trip rather than a Y6 one as we go up to 13 but I have never, in the 9 years I've worked at the school, been aware of a child who didn't go.

I don't know what we'd do if it every happened actually - the rest of the school are sitting exams all week!

Send them to help in our attached infants maybe? Suggest a week off? Really, not a clue.