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!

The School should have a policy on school visits and this normally includes adult:child ratios for distant visits but must take the risk
Assessment into account. The adult:child ratio differs according to each journey and activity.

The Head should not do a risk assessment if they are not going on the trip. The lead teacher must do it. If the Head is going, that’s fine. My inclination would be 1:7 is fine but 1:6 is better. If the children live in a city and are used to public trabdport, then it’s less risky than those who never use a bus.

I'd be pleased in the first place that the school hadn't booked an expensive coach, and were doing the trip at an affordable price bu I think you need more people.
It would be unusual to have a class without any children that need fairly close support when out and about, so, if one adult is doing that, (even if you only have 1 child who needs that additional support, which, IME, wold be unusual) then you are really having a ratio of 1:10 for 6 and 7 yr olds. Now, for a 5 min walk to the local library / park / Church / mosque / whatever, that is one thing, but your issue is that you might not all be able to get on the same bus. You certainly won't all be able to sit downstairs - you are being a bit odd about the not going upstairs rue, IMO.

We live in a south London borough and most trips involved the train into Central London, tube and walking.

But even in Y6 we had at least 4 children to one adult. 4 adults to 30 plus children no way our head would have done this.

Like I say - public transport wouldn't bother me (and would probably shut DD1's whining about how deprived she is because she never gets to go on a bus up... I'm not that shit a parent - we just live near trams and there are no real bus services near us) but those ratios would.

Assuming an average primary class you're likely to have at least 1 or 2 "livewires" who need very close supervision on, plus the ones who end up lagging behind and needing chivvying up every 2 steps... I'd want at least another couple of adults - even if they were "just" (I put that in commas because some are fucking awesome like me ) parent helpers along.

My own kids school tends to aim for 1:4/5 just for the infants walking to the local library (but we are very lucky in terms of the parental support we have)

The return journey is the one I'd be most concerned about.

Would the cost of taking the bus to the venue and a single coach trip return be viable?

Or, if it's hard to release enough adults for the whole trip, could a couple of extra adults travel out to meet the group at the end of the event to support the journey back with you?

What is Plan B in case of wet weather?

I was a parent helper on a school trip. My friend and I had 6 well behaved kids to look after in a fairly contained area and boy, it was hard work!
Constantly watching to make sure each child kept up, watching the teacher ahead to try and keep up, watching adults around you, making sure kids kept all their belongings with them, all while engaging with the children to make sure they got the most out of the trip.

I realise teachers are more used to it but I think I'd be happier with a lower staff pupil ratio. I'm not sure whether I'd refuse or not.

30 Kids aged 6-7
4 adults

No. I wouldn’t consent. My children are much older now but in a big city centre with busy roads, vehicles and crowds, I would have held a 6yos hand. Therefore 4 adults not enough for me to be happy with it.

Also, a party of 34 attempting to board a public bus. Just far too chaotic.

I’d pay for the coach or not go. You don’t just flush safety down the toilet on cost grounds.

I remember going on similar trips as a child but I grew up in a lovely, safe, easily walkable city. And I was a very obedient and cautious child. I am not that familiar with Birmingham but the centre didn't strike me as being particularly pedestrian friendly. Some children also have trouble with not being complete maniacs even at that age. The route will also make a huge difference. If it us an easy walk through a park or something with no major roads to cross that is very different to crossing several large intersections iyswim.

How do the parents know the ratio? I don’t think I’ve seen a consent form with it on?

When I help at rainbows we do the minimum plus a spare for dealing with stuff, could be emergencies or just paying for the bus / entrance. It works quite well

How do the parents know the ratio? I don’t think I’ve seen a consent form with it on?

Our letters tend to have a list of the staff going (residentials) or otherwise refer to the rough numbers of adults accompanying the children. But then our school gladly uses DBS-checked parent volunteers who are well known to the children so they probably take "too many" adults if anything.