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

[moodimunky]

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?

[Tilapia]

Sports premium is ring fenced money to spend on sport, and it’s for all children (not related to pupil premium). But in my DC’s school the money is spent on a part time PE teacher (it’s a small ish school so there wouldn’t automatically be one otherwise) so there isn’t any left over for a minibus.

[BackforGood]

Thanks NorestforMrz and Tilapia
I'd not heard of it.

[YellowMakesMeSmile]

Very standard for parents to have to take children when it's small groups. Waste of money to hire a coach for a handful of children.

Ours does it regularly, sometimes DH or I go and sometimes a friend does. We share it between us and help others out.

However I believe a good school needs parental involvement rather than the attitude of school hours teachers responsibility.

[BertrandRussell]

Perfectly normal for parents who can to help in situations like this.

[BertrandRussell]

But I do think the "my child will only travel in a car with someone she has known since birth" thing a bit odd. The school knows its parents.

[Oblomov17]

I too think is poor. Schools must know well in advance when ‘county sports etc’ is. They know probably 9 months before, the date.

Arrange a mini bus. Or put a whataspp /Facebook group asking for volunteers. Weeks in advance.

Then a week or 2 weeks before, let parents know which children are being chosen.

I don’t understand why this, or something similar can’t be arranged.

[grasspigeons]

The most likely scenario is that the school will just not take part in these non compulsory extra events rather than go to the expense of a mini bus.

[strugglingtodomybest]

Our primary did this too. There was never a problem organising lifts.

Some of the parents moaned about it, but I found it interesting that it was normally the SAHP ones that did, which left me a bit as I would take time off work (self employed so easy to do!) to attend and help. I'd much rather the school saved the cash rather than spending it on minibuses plus I wanted to see DS compete.

[BackforGood]

I too think is poor. Schools must know well in advance when ‘county sports etc’ is. They know probably 9 months before, the date

I don't think so. Well, I have no experience of 'County Sports', but my dd did represent her school at 6 different sports over Yrs 5 and 6, and most matches are arranged a week or two in advance.

The most likely scenario is that the school will just not take part in these non compulsory extra events rather than go to the expense of a mini bus.

This ^. It isn't "just" cost either. You have to do extra training and pass a special test to drive children anywhere in my LA, then, of course you'd have to go and collect it, and return it afterwards, as well as the fixture. Plus, if a member of staff is driving, they will need to take another member of staff with them. It just isn't feasible for lots of small groups of dc going to matches regularly.

[OlennasWimple]

But why should a child miss out because their parent is unable to ferry them around? Either because they have other commitments that can' be shifted (esp at short notice) or because they don't have access to a car?

This is the sharp elbowed middle class in action

[Floralnomad]

The child doesn’t need to miss out , the OP has been given numerous ideas if she doesn’t do anything about it then it is her that is making her daughter miss out , not the school . What do you suggest that the school order and pay for a taxi and chaperone just for one child , when other parents are happy to help out .

[Hersetta427]

Very normal at DD's school.

A minibus hire is very expensive (they will charge you a whole day rate as they will be unable to let it out for the rest of the day). Also not everyone is able to drive a mini bus - you need to be over a certain age then your driving license automatically covers you (nowadays you need to pass an additional test). It would probably cost in excess of £20 per pupil (depending on numbers going) then people would complain more about the cost than having to find a lift share !

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

same at our school - all normal as far as I can see. I would far rather the sports funding was spent benefitting all the children with a sports specific member of staff as in our case rather than the select few who are always the same ones getting to take part.

[didireallysaythat]

Normal here. Half of the trips, sports events etc are cancelled because there aren't enough parents to transport the children to and from the venue.