Year 2 parents: would you give your consent?

[cloudyweewee]

I teach Y2 in a suburb of Birmingham and have been asked to take the class to a daytime concert in the centre of Birmingham. I assumed we would be going by coach, but we are in fact going to be travelling by bus and then will have a 15 minute walk from the bus stop to the venue. Then obviously we will have the return journey later in the afternoon. Several parents have not given their permission as they are worried about their children using public transport when there will only be 4 adults (me, TA and 2 others) supervising them.What are your views as parents? I can't say I'm entirely happy about it either!

I would allow it. If parents are worried couldn't some of them volunteer to help?

Not yr2 parent, but ds had a school trip that involved walking from venue to another in central location in yr2. Adult: children ratio was 1:4. And school begged parents to volunteer so the trip can go forward.

I'm a Yr 2 parent and have also helped out on various trips in different year-groups.

I wouldn't be concerned about the use of public transport but I would expect at least one more adult to be going with them. There are two many things that could go wrong with the proposed ratio.

too many things...

Then you are not following NUT guidelines for 1 to 6. You need one more helper I would say surely there must be someone.

I wouldn't consent with that ratio - especially the combination of that ratio and the concerns about if you'd all get on the bus easily for the return journey. I'm normally a fairly laid back parent and I've done more than my fair share of school trips as both a teacher and parent helper - and that's probably the first I've heard mooted on here where I'd say no if it was my kids involved.

I'm in London so no tickets needed for the children. Bus company gets a heads-up about a delay at whatever stop they get on/off at. Often classes are split in two so half on one bus, half on the next. Going upstairs is often the highlight of the trip: adult 1 gets on bus, ushers them all up (so you know they can't get off too early), adult 2 follows. Then adult 1 goes down, gets off bus, counts kids all off, followed by adult 2.
But for that age group I'd want more adults - usually there's at least another TA or two who work with a few children.

No, I wouldn’t give permission. I live in London and have seen classes on buses and I have seen children most and nearly lost. Even walking over the bridges when some lag behind and staff haven’t noticed.

ThT should read lost not most

How many in the class?

Oh, 30, found it.

Another London parent here and ours go on trips by public transport all the time - it’s free so really brings down the costs of the trip. There is at least one trip they do in Yr1 that involves two trains and a 15 min walk.

Ratios are higher though - 1 to 4 or 5 I think.

OP, ask some of those parents who said no if theyed like to go.

Child adult ratio is not good enough.

To be honest I would probably sign but that would be on the unspoken understanding that the teacher and group leaders were very confident they could do it.

You've a duty to refuse/insist on more adults if you're not.

I have been a parent helper on trips on public transport in London and it is quite stressful by the way.

I'll speak to the HT tomorrow and ask for more adult helpers. She has already done the risk assessment and has assured me that 4 adults will be fine. I think the ratio we use for Y1/2/3 is 1:10.

Again against guidelines it’s 1 to 10 for Year 4 and above. Parents will and have looked it up and that’s why they are saying no - one extra adult is all you need to bring it in line

That's very interesting as the ratio used by school for Y4/5/6 is 1:15!

I was a parent helper on a similar trip in London. The ratio was 6 adults to 30 kids which was fine imo.

I'd sign the slip - but think the head should allow parent helpers - but only if they have DBS checks - anyone misbehaves they get removed from the list of approved helpers.

I helped on a y5 trip at the same school and it was 4 or 5 adults (can't remember) per class. 1 adult had to take the odd child desperate for the loo and other jobs so there was really 3 or 4 adults for the majority of the time.

Year 4 is 10 to 15. The head really is pushing it and I do wonder why parent helpers can’t all be awful

6 adults to 30 is perfect 5 adults is fine. 4 imo is not particularly for a bus trip

I’m guessing you’re off to the Town Hall or Symphony Hall. Id be perfectly happy with that ratio. Have all the building works stopped now round where the old conservatoire/library used to be? That caused some detours which would be a pain. Where does your bus go from?

I think the walk to what I assume will be hippodrome or the alex would be a no no from me! I would prefer coach for a city centre trip. My children used to walk through Harborne to go swimming, this was less busy and less opportunity for children getting lost! They were supervised with more adults though.
The actual trip on the bus would be ok. It is the walking I would object to.

I’d assumed THSH as the OP said concert. When I worked there we put on educational concerts for primary schools with curriculum tie ins.

@AlexanderHamilton Yes, I didn't read the OP correctly. I thought I read theatre.