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?

There are many posters whose kids go to schools with affluent parents. Our 4.5 day residential cost £190 (which I think was about right, real cost); some parents can't possibly reach for that. I hear about quite a few that only went because grandparents paid.

Wow, £190 for 5 days, we were asked for £280 for Weds-Fri which is why only 24 out of 60 kids went.

£180? Dd is going next year, Monday to Friday is £500!! The school have started taking instalments already

Our school was nearly £400 for four nights. We paid, everyone does, but I think it is OTT.

in y6 the ones that don't go have a week of fun.
Harry Potter world, beach, making pizzas at a pizza shop, museums, swimming.

£400-£500, that is madness!
We thought £280 for 3days/2nights was too expensive and not something we could justify spending. Thankfully a lot of others felt the same so there was no 'pressure' to spend more than you could afford. How on earth do people manage?

Our dd's was £132 with the opportunity to pay in instalments available from around a term before hand. I thought this was really reasonable for 5 days/4 nights. Cost was only £20 for those on FSM's so really no reason why anyone needed to miss out. £400-£500 seems such a lot for a primary school trip!!!

Ours is £180 for 5 days/4 nights. The year 5 one was £140 for 3 days/2 nights

There were about 10 at our school this year for the year 6 trip. They did a lot of art projects, PE, playing on computers, reading books .......
There was another residential in year 3 where those not on the school trip joined the year below for the time their year was away.

Where do they go for £400+? Ours goes 4 hours drive away to hostel in a pretty valley in the Yorkshire Dales (6 in a room), they visit a nice manor home & farm one day, plenty walking, an event that has nominal ticket price of £10 each (must get off-peak group discount) ice skating journey out, a free ice cream one afternoon & included lunch on return. There's another full day or so of similar stuff.

Secondary school age DD has 5 solid says at a PGL type place for just over £300 plus 6 hours travel each way.

... solid DAYS...

Between 30 & 50% stay behind hear every year, mostly for financial reasons, despite me haggling like made with the holiday company and the buses - we get it to about £290 for the week, which IMO is excellent value for what they get but, of course, also a lot of money to find if you haven't got it.

The one who stay have a "non-residential" week of activities which we try to do as cheap or free as possible - although we ask for payment, it's not compulsory and many won't pay.

They have a day of sports activities at the local secondary, some nature things at the nearest nature reserve, swimming, and the one expensive thing is a day at an outward bound centre.

Surely you can't charge for the transport or activities parts of the trip, though, SewingBox - just board and lodging, if the residential takes place during term time? You'd be a bit hard pressed to claim an entire week of activities during term time were all optional extras and nothing whatsoever to do with the national curriculum in any way, shape or form.

Many schools use companies that offer a complete package with inclusive pricing.
When I organised residentials I always went during the Easter break as it worked out so much cheaper (50% or more) but of course relies on staff giving up part of their holidays.

My year group went on a residential, and I organized a series of special activities for the nine children who were not going to do with the TA: bug hunts, pond dipping, computer activities etc and a display board of their own to display their work. When I returned the Head had sent the TA to work in another class, and the children were split between younger classes and given paper work to do. Very disappointing.

Dd has autism so possibly won't go, too anxious. I will take her on holiday if she can't manage it

My DS doesnt want to go on his ... he frets about the nighttimes and being away from us...although he did do a Yr 4 trip and was ok but after a PGL with cubs this year we had to go pick him up so seems to have put him off.

I'd really like him to go as I know he'll love the activities and it seems such a shame for him to miss out but he is adamant he doesnt want to go.

Do you think I should speak with his teacher?

Definitely talk to the teacher, they will have had others with the same concerns and will do all they can to help, they'd far rather be told in advance I'm sure.

OP. In DCs primary the only children not to go on the residential in Year 6 were those who had behaviour problems (not SEN). They were left work to complete and sat in other classrooms.

About 60 went to Paris for a week,( my DD had been saving birthday and Christmas money for ages so she could make a contribution to the cost) the other 30 kids who couldn't afford it / didn't want to go had adventure week which included loads of great days out locally and a sleepover at school for one night. They could get Adventure week hoodies so they felt they had had a special experience like the ones who went to Paris. I think my sporty ds will maybe opt for adventure week rather than Paris when he is in Y6

My DD didn't go on the residential in yr 5 or yr 6. She gets homesick. I wondered whether I should strongly encourage her to go. She was adament she didn't want to in yr 5 and when everyone came back she wasn't bothered that she hadn't been! She had a good time at school, helping out, sometimes lessons with another class. So in yr 6 she chose not to go again. It hasn't affected her friendships.