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Primary education

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

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Original poster

Should I have to transport child to and from sports event ran during school hours?

64 replies

moodimunky · 28/10/2017 16:59

Is it me or is it out of order for school to invite my child to compete for the school in a sports event but then say they can only attend if I arrange transport to and from the event which is during school hours?

As a working parent how am I supposed to get time off for this with only 10 days notice? And what if I did not have a car?? Seems a little discriminatory to me?

OP posts:

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Sirzy · 28/10/2017 17:02

Ask another parent going if they can take them?

Smartiepants79 · 28/10/2017 17:09

How many other children are going? How else do you expect them to ge their? Transport for schools is VERY expensive or an insurance nightmare.
Does he want to compete? Presumably he is not just competing 'for the school' but for himself as well.
If the school has no spare staff members (quite possible) the they are of course going to have to rely on the goodwill of parents to facillitate this kind of thing. If you really can't do it the you will need to tell school and see if an alternative comes up - other parent etc.. But you have to accept that it's possible that he simply can't go.
My school are attempting to enter some of our kids into a local sporting event. We've been told we have to provide 3 members of staff to help at the event or we lose points before we've even started. It's on a Saturday! Should 3 members of staff have to give up their weekend? Or do the kids just miss out?

cheminotte · 28/10/2017 17:13

I agree with you. If it's in school hours it's the schools responsibility to get him / her there. We don't all have to take our DC to the pool for their weekly lesson!
After school and weekend events are different. Transport provided would be good but probably at a cost.

Original poster

moodimunky · 28/10/2017 17:14

My Dd has only been at school for half a term so only know a few parents I would trust to take her and they aren't going.

My point is not how do I get Dd there its why should I have to if the school wants Dd to compete during the school day? I never had this issue at previous school even if I had to pay small contribution to cover cost of transport

OP posts:

Parker231 · 28/10/2017 17:17

If it’s during school hours, it should totally be the school’s responsibility. If not, why is it organized during time they should be in school lessons?

Totally different for after school and weekend events - school aren’t responsible for the children then.

Smartiepants79 · 28/10/2017 17:17

Well then, don't get her there! Problem solved! You're not fussed about her going so she doesn't go.
Would you pay for transport so she could go?
Think this classes as an extra-curricular activity I'd be surprised if schools have any 'responsibilty' to take them anywhere!

user1493413286 · 28/10/2017 17:21

Most schools would ask for a few parent volunteers as then they can fit 3-4 children in their cars as it seems a bit silly every parent taking one child and for working parents it’s often not feasible

ProfessorCat · 28/10/2017 17:22

No, it's standard. My DD is musical and we have to arrange for her to attend and travel to concert rehearsals through the school in school time.

Floralnomad · 28/10/2017 17:30

It was standard when my dc went to primary school ( several years ago) if it was for tournaments that only selected children were going to , totally different if it's a whole class outing . I can't see what your issue is really if you can't take her or arrange for someone else to do so then she can't go it's no real biggie if most of the children will still be in school anyway . Perhaps you could ask the teacher if they know of anyone who could take her .

Original poster

moodimunky · 28/10/2017 17:32

Dd is desperate to compete and has already missed the opportunity to compete in another event due to the same issue. And I then end up the bad guy and feeling even more guilty because I have to go to work - I feel the school set her up for disappointment.

I agree about after school and weekends and I would not expect the school to provide transport - but arranging trips/events during the school day that only children can attend if their parents do not work or have a car seems unfair and a little cruel on the children.

I would very much love to have the freedom to be available for every school event, assembly, trip and outing but being realistic I need to work to house, feed and clothe my children and allow them to engage in experiences outside of school.

And as I said originally what about those children whose parents don't have the luxury of cars, who may already be restricted on/find it harder to engage in activities and experiences?

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 28/10/2017 17:43

Well if it were my child and I didn't have a car I would have asked a friend , family member , nice neighbour or at a push ordered a taxi .

SkeletonSkins · 28/10/2017 17:48

We normally ask for parent volunteers but wouldn't need every parent to take as some parents can take 3 children for example. Could you contact the school and ask if this is possible?

The problem with saying school should organise transport is exactly how we do this. For staff to take children, they have to have business insurance on their car and also not teaching their own class. To hire a bus is incredibly expensive, as would ordering several taxis.

Sadly the solution would have to be that we don't go.... I'm not sure how else we could do it.

Norestformrz · 28/10/2017 17:49

We provide and pay for transport for pupils representing the school in sporting events during and outside school hours it’s simpler than expecting parents to always be available and ensuring those giving other children a lift are insured and dbs checked and a good use of sports premium money.

user1955 · 28/10/2017 17:54

If we didn't have parents transporting children to school time sporting fixtures we just wouldn't be able to take part. If we are sending a whole class or two we can arrange a coach, but if its just a handful of children to take part in an inter-school event we haven't got the staff to transport them (not even thinking about the requirements for chaperones not just driver, business insurance on teachers' cars) as they have to teach those not attending.
We do encourage parents to work together to get more than their own child there, but at the end of the day we just don't have the capacity to transport just a few children to all the varied events that take place.

BackforGood · 28/10/2017 17:56

It's you.
If it is a sports thing then there will be other people going to form the team. You ask the school to pass on your contact details to another parent so you can arrange a lift for her. It's how it works. On the days I was able to take my dc, I expected to take half the rest of the team too. On the days I couldn't, then I would hope someone else would step up and help out. They always did.

Liadain · 28/10/2017 18:00

Well, you don't HAVE to - your child simply can't go if you can't/won't organise transport. It's not a compulsory activity.

Many schools are very strapped for cash and hiring a bus would be out of the question, sadly. Speaking as a teacher I wouldn't be willing to drive pupils myself - besides, what about my own class? So that doesn't leave many options open.

JennyOnAPlate · 28/10/2017 18:04

It’s the same at my dcs school. The school can’t afford to pay for transport.

youarenotkiddingme · 28/10/2017 20:09

Is this secondary?

One secondary schools have mini uses and they transport teams to sports events that way. That's for events during day and after school fixtures.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 28/10/2017 20:13

It was the same at my dcs school, junior at least

PerspicaciaTick · 28/10/2017 20:14

At my DCs primary school parents are always expected to arrange transport for their children to events during school hours (with the exception of whole class trips). It is one of the reasons why a parents facebook group is invaluable - to find out who else is going and if you can share rides.

admission · 28/10/2017 21:31

There are two issues here. Firstly as the event is during school time then the school has responsibility for organising transport etc. They therefore should be conducting a risk assessment. The first part of that risk assessment is who is in the car. Whilst the detail of whether a DBS is required might suggest for occasional car trips a DBS is not necessary I would hope that most schools would take the view that they are an adult with three pupils who the school still has a duty of care for as it is during the day. That to me says all the parents volunteering should have a DBS check. Obviously if the transport is arranged for after the school day when pupils have been handed back to parents then it is for parents to decide on who is an appropriate adult to take charge of their child.
The second question for me is insurance and the school ensuring that anybody transporting pupils at any time of the day, has suitable insurance on the car. Again this should be part of the risk assessment for the event.

BertrandRussell · 28/10/2017 21:35

If you knew how tight school budgets are.......
There will be another parent who can give a lift. Talk to the school about it.

Seasonschaaaange · 28/10/2017 21:39

I would expect the school to provide transport. They do at my children's school. It's ashame for your daughter is she wants to compete and can't so if they really need you to take her there then they should have checked with you before putting her forward IMO.

BabyDreams2018 · 28/10/2017 21:54

Well, you have three choices: Don't send your dd OR 2. Get a friend/family member to do it for you OR 3. Could you ask the school for the other parent's contact details and contact them to see if they can give your dd a lift and you will pay petrol money.

cece · 28/10/2017 22:03

My dc's school does this. Usually someone else will take your child if you are unable to due to other commitments. The parents tend to share it around. Ask the office who else is going and see if they can find a lift for your dc.

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