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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

DD too young for school trip at 4?

81 replies

CocoSims · 11/07/2021 20:28

Our schools organised a school trip for the reception kids this week. It’s a 2 hour coach trip and full day at the seaside. There are a couple of parents going to help out.

Normally I’d be fine with this but my DD is the youngest in the school and it shows, she’s not at all streetwise and I’ve been told they’ll be holding a friends hand which she’s not very good at, her heads always in the clouds.

Shall I just be honest with the school? What are your views on kids going at this age? I understand not all kids have the chance to do these things so I get it but she seems really young right now.

I do have a nearly 8 year old who does loads so I know it’s not a general issue I have with letting my kids do stuff.

OP posts:

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Lulu1919 · 12/07/2021 08:36

The only thing I'd not like was spending four hours on a coach...two hours each way ...is quite a long journey especially if they are going within the normal school hours .
The trip will have been planned with military precision...trust me I've been part of trip planning for over 20 years ...we count re count and triple count ....one adult will only have four or so children to watch and they will watch them CONSTANTLY...school trips are exhausting for staff as we have to be 100 mentally 'on it ' the whole time.
But at the end of the day it's your choice ...I'd let them go but you must decide what you feel comfortable with ...but they will know they are missing out if they don't go .

BigSandyBalls2015 · 12/07/2021 08:42

How often do you see a story in the media about a child hurt/missing etc on a school trip? Never! Let her go, she’ll be fine.

roguetomato · 12/07/2021 08:49

I don't think Op is overreacting, I think it's quite a big ask for 4/5 years old on 2 hours coach trip that last whole day. At our school, they didn't do long coach trip until yr2, it was more like local trip for reception children at my dc's school.
But then, I don't think school would organise the trip unless they are confident and risk assessed, so I would let her go.

Em8725 · 12/07/2021 08:54

I went on a similar trip at 4. I can remember being there. I loved it.

If you do let your child go, pack spare shoes. Mine got lost in the sea 😂.

Legaleaglenot · 12/07/2021 08:55

@BigSandyBalls2015

How often do you see a story in the media about a child hurt/missing etc on a school trip? Never! Let her go, she’ll be fine.

Sadly there are plenty of stories about tragedies on school trips and even in school playgrounds.

I wouldn’t let her go OP. Why put a class of 30 small children on a 4 hour coach ride to the seaside when they can have a much nicer day at the seaside in a couple of weeks with their family?

What will they be doing at the seaside? Going in the sea? Shame if they don’t, but a nightmare for changing/safety if they do.

Very odd that a PP thinks that parents want “a free day out with their child”. Errrm, sitting on a coach with a class of small children doesn’t exactly sound like a treat to me.

Op, go with your instincts and ignore those PP who think that you shouldn’t.

RedToothBrush · 12/07/2021 08:58

Very odd that a PP thinks that parents want “a free day out with their child”. Errrm, sitting on a coach with a class of small children doesn’t exactly sound like a treat to me.

Its not. Its very stressful and exhausting.

I've done it with DS's class. And was asked to go for the other class as they were short on parents. Tbh i think its easier for other peoples children as your own play up with you around!!!

Angel2702 · 12/07/2021 09:01

I’ve always let mine go. In nursery they did a full day out on steam trains. It is usual to not have your child in your group from all the trips I’ve been on. They have so many risk assessments in place so I have always felt confident sending mine.

Inim · 12/07/2021 09:05

My DS is august born and has sen and I always worry about school trips, but the school know which kids need an extra eye and he is always in the teacher group and spends most of the time holding her hand.
The last trip was to a lake for eater sport activities (he’s 7) and I nearly pulled him out of it as he can’t swim and had autism/adhd so no real awareness of danger and I’m so glad I didn’t because he just had the best day. I did speak to the school though and it put me at ease so might be an idea to speak to them and ask about risk assessment? School trips are so important IMO it’s something they all remember

bigbluebus · 12/07/2021 09:11

I've done lots of school trips as a volunteer with Reception/Yr 1 children and believe me there are plenty like you describe your DD. On a trip to the beach we were on a bit of beach well away from the main part so it was easy to keep an eye on the group. When they went in the water to paddle it was 2 children to 1 adult and the children had to hold the adult's hand at all times in the water. The rest of the time there was a line drawn on the sand which the children were not allowed to cross - and they stuck to it. In my experience, teachers group pupils so that only one 'troublesome ' child or child needing extra attention is with each adult and usually accompanied by some more sensible children to spread the load!

Hallyup6 · 12/07/2021 09:15

Our reception class did this a few years ago. Every child went with an adult. There was only one child who travelled alone, who met her grandparents there and they ensured she was on the coach at the end of the day. They also did a trip in year one where every child needed an adult with them. It wasn't until year 2 that the school took them.

I don't think I'd be happy with my 4 year old going by themselves.

Kolo · 12/07/2021 09:18

When dd was in reception afterwards they had to write a sentence to go up on the wall about the best bit of the trip. About 28/30 children wrote "The best bit of the trip was the coach".
No mention of any of the animals they saw/fed/held. I said to the teacher that maybe next time just arrange a trip in the coach and don't worry about the rest.

I organised a trip once where the feedback showed that the kids favourite part of the day was the toilets. 🤦‍♀️.
Leicester space centre if anyone wants a good day out with amazing toilets.

MaintainingPositivity · 12/07/2021 09:20

I did loads of school trips as a volunteer, one was a nursery/reception class.

A grandparent sought me out as her DGD was in my group and explained how nervous her family were of her going. I only had four in my group but I treated them all like little VIPs and we had the best time. The grandparent felt less nervous after she had spoken to me. Still chat to her now 10 years later

Maybe you could have a chat to whoever is her group leader. She will be fine x

TheYearOfSmallThings · 12/07/2021 09:21

When you say "a couple of parents" do you literally mean 2, or actually more than that?

My DS went on plenty of trips in reception, including on trains and tubes. It was great experience for them, but we certainly had more than 2 parents. More than 10 actually.

Kolo · 12/07/2021 09:22

OP, ask the school what the adult:child ratio will be. Whilst I think 2hrs away is a bit unnecessary at that age, the school will have had to fully risk assess the trip and will have a really safe ratio. It might put your mind at rest.

SusannaM · 12/07/2021 09:27

My DD is a summer baby and was doing trips out from nursery.
She will be fine, I remember having a wibble once when they went on a trip to a castle that had lots of steep staircases. They were fine.
We live at the seaside, so trips to the beach and visits to ferries and other sea related stuff is common from really young.

I've helped out on lots of trips, it's not a picnic, but bloody hard work and you don't want to be in the same group as your daughter. I have been and also used to run a lunchtime activity. It's difficult for your own child to see you as anything other than Mum, when they are that young, DD was always a bit of a pain for wanting my attention.
But as pp have said there's lots of risk assessments, counting (Oh God, the counting!) And they will be asleep on the way back.
And also mentioned by a pp, it's always the most random thing that they remember and put in their books the next day - Like the time little M was sick at the farm park, and the animals ate it

Killahangilion · 12/07/2021 09:35

A teacher who says that a child of 4 years old is ‘nearly 5mm, isn’t in the right job, IMO.

There’s no way I’d let my child go on a school trip to the seaside at that age. When I took young D.C. to the seaside, I’d be watching them constantly on a 1:1 basis.

Yes the teachers are trained, but there’s not enough of them to supervise the whole group and you’ve no idea how vigilant the other volunteer parents will be.

SleepingStandingUp · 12/07/2021 09:40

At 4, our ratios were pretty high (parents got their child plus one) and teachers maybe 3 each. Some parents like me just got their own as he's complicated. With those ratios the kids are as safe as can be.

Larger ratios and kids wanting to be with Mommy or Grandad etc and I'd be more concerned

However I'd speak to school and ask. If they know she's inclined to wander they're likely to put her with a teacher who can hold her hand and the other kid can hold onto her

Rizzoli123 · 12/07/2021 10:24

You said parents were going could you ask to go along with your her and be a parent helper. She might hold your hand better and she won't miss out with her friends

lanthanum · 12/07/2021 19:59

@CocoSims

Plus the school sent out a letter this week saying parents who have volunteered will not get to go in their child’s group which would’ve upset me as surely that’s why we all go?!

I used to ask NOT to be in my child's group. I was interested to see what she was doing on her trip, but I thought it was better for her to be independent from me. We then had more to talk about when we got home, too, as we could compare notes on what we'd seen. The teacher I first said this to was delighted and put me with some of the more awkward kids as she knew I could handle them.

Mollymalone123 · 12/07/2021 20:07

I’m sure it’ll be ok- yes it will be a long day but there are often lots of breaks at this age-have been doing trips out with large groups age from 3 and apart from endless head counts 😂 it’s always been a successful trip out- have also gone on ones to museums and have walked there and back ( a good 40 minutes walk each way) again from age 3 and they always cope really well. We take it at their pace for the walking ones and take breaks.

Viviennemary · 12/07/2021 20:14

I don't think I'm over-protective. But I wouldn't let a four year old go on this trip.

mamamalt · 12/07/2021 20:41

My 4 yo just went on a school trip with his preschool. Coach journey and everything, all was fine. He loved it. What is it you're afraid of happening? I'm sure they will be well staffed and prepared.

Toddlerteaplease · 12/07/2021 20:57

@CocoSims

Plus the school sent out a letter this week saying parents who have volunteered will not get to go in their child’s group which would’ve upset me as surely that’s why we all go?!

Children of parent helpers were never put in their parents group when I was at school.

Eatenpig · 16/07/2021 00:01

Let her go. School prob do it every year. They'll have all plans in place

SuperCaliFragalistic · 16/07/2021 00:24

My yr1 DS went to the seaside this year on a school trip. With so much cancelled in the last 18 months I would consider he was very lucky to go. His last trip was to a science museum when he was at nursery and age 3.

They went to a big beach when the tide was out and went nowhere near the sea. They built sandcastles, played games and had ice lollies and that was about it. They all had a great time. I would definitely let my DC go on school trips at any age as I trust the school to risk assess properly. In my experience you would usually be allocated your own DCs group to supervise if you went along but in some cases it wouldn't be suitable such as if the DC were likely to be very clingy to the parent and it could detract from the enjoyment or the parents ability to supervise the other children. Also I would imagine if an anxious parent had asked to come because they didn't trust the school to look after their DC properly then they might push back on that somewhat too. Please let her go, she'll have a lovely time and will be perfectly safe and will not understand why you have kept her back.

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