Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Primary education

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

Original poster

School camp

41 replies

Campmatt · 18/06/2023 22:31

My child's school have asked for a 100 quid non refundable deposition for a 5 day camp (total cost 300) I have been given a month to find the money. I am unsure about because it is in December and he can get unwell in the cold. Then what if there are teacher strikes? So far the school has closed on every strike day. Then there is the fact I am not working (won't be entitled to any help). They he also usually has music exams around that time.

I think it has to be a no right?

I have found strike days very challenging to cater for, while I appreciate why teachers need to do this, I am thinking that it would be madness to risk a deposit when I think strikes could just continue on? What do others think?

OP posts:
Original poster
Campmatt · 18/06/2023 22:33

Actually I have been given just under 4 weeks to find the money for the deposit.

I thought the camp would be at a warmer time of the year.

OP posts:
Geneticsbunny · 18/06/2023 22:33

School trips are hugely important for kids. They learn so much from them. The teachers will do everything they can to make sure it goes ahead. I think it is definitely worth the risk. Also if you are struggling to get the money together then speak to the school and they will probably allow you to pay in installments.

Original poster
Campmatt · 18/06/2023 22:40

No the school won't help with instalments I know they won't help. They didn't help someone much much worse off than me. The thing is I would like to pay for a camping trip when my child is able to go in warmer weather and hopefully I would have a job!

I am unsure if the trip would go ahead in the case of a strike.

The teachers really don't usually do anything extra like this, sports day is really poor, it is never on a field for example.

The often do things like close 10 mins early for a meeting, or have half days at the end of term.
I can see the staff saying a strike will take precedence.

Also only about 2/3rds of class I think will attend (based upon the last year where they did the same abs people could not scramble the money together in time) . The ones who stayed behind previously got free excursion day trips which seemed really fun.

OP posts:
Original poster
Campmatt · 18/06/2023 22:43

I just don't think I can risk 100 pounds at the moment.

Although I hope to be in work by December I just think 300 is too much.

As a family we have not had any sort of holiday since before covid.

I don't want my child to miss out but I can see it being a bit of disaster, cold weather, early nights and potential industrial action could just make it unmanageable.

OP posts:
Original poster
Campmatt · 18/06/2023 22:49

I think deep down my sense is they would not staff a school camp during a strike. For example during covid they did not provide any work until the last lockdown. I realise that is different but the same teacher who was unable to be contacted during lockdown would supposedly be on school trip.

I have also experienced random price increases for things, they really chase voluntary donations (which I understand).

My child would love to go but also as I would be (hopefully) in a new job, I would be concerned about him getting ill, or the camping trip not going ahead.

I think I need to have a think and list positives and negatives.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 18/06/2023 22:52

Presumably it isn’t actual camping in a tent. Is the whole class going? What will your child do instead and will they feel they have missed out?

Original poster
Campmatt · 18/06/2023 22:57

I don't think the entire class will go. I think at most 2/3rds will go. Previously children who didn't go got some great day trips such as to farms or activity parks, which did not require an outlay.

I know I won't be the only parent in this position.

My child will want to go, so I will consider that.

However, right now it probably is not the right decision. I take it there is no calendar of strike action is there? When might I know if the teachers strike in December ?

OP posts:
cocksstrideintheevening · 18/06/2023 22:57

By camp I assume they mean a pgl type thing rather than tent camping. It's a lot cheaper to do it at that time of year.

If you can't afford it you can't afford it.

Wolfiefan · 18/06/2023 23:05

I’m not sure what the relevance of strikes is. Your child wants to go. Can you afford it?
In my kids’ schools the expectation would be that they would all go on the trip. No staffing to do anything else with those who didn’t but stick them at the back of another class.

Original poster
Campmatt · 18/06/2023 23:05

I would hope I can afford it, if I can get work after the school holidays.

However, I can't afford to lose 100 pounds if that makes sense?

It is hard to know what to do?

I just feel if there was a strike it would be throwing away money, right before Christmas, which just seems crazy.

OP posts:
Original poster
Campmatt · 18/06/2023 23:07

This is what is strange, the school does seem to somehow at least acknowledge each year that they leave it too late to request the money, and a third won't go. So that third who don't go get the trips away (say 2 or 3 days) but don't stay overnight. So I get the sense the children who remain still have a great time.

OP posts:
Original poster
Campmatt · 18/06/2023 23:07

And then if there was a strike well the school would close. The trip would be off.

OP posts:
Original poster
Campmatt · 18/06/2023 23:08

The relevance of a strike would be that the despiser is no refundable, so if there was a strike I would have just thrown away 100 quid.

OP posts:
Original poster
Campmatt · 18/06/2023 23:12

I suppose a way around it would be to say, I don't feel I can lose a 100 pound deposit due to potential strike action. I will wait until near the strip date to commit. If they don't allow that, then that is fine. Then separately I will look at a school type camp pfl for my boy separately in warmer weather.

OP posts:
PurpleWisteria1 · 18/06/2023 23:13

Campmatt · 18/06/2023 23:05

I would hope I can afford it, if I can get work after the school holidays.

However, I can't afford to lose 100 pounds if that makes sense?

It is hard to know what to do?

I just feel if there was a strike it would be throwing away money, right before Christmas, which just seems crazy.

Why would you lose the £100?
It sounds like you are convincing yourself and inventing reasons for him not to go tbh.
He would love to go and school trips are extremely important and hugely fun for most kids.
It won’t be camping outside in a tent. It will be an indoor venue.
Its highly unlikely there will be teachers striking during the camp - logistical nightmare with people demanding money back.
if there is any way to scrape the money then I think you should if your child really wants to go.

GulesMeansRed · 18/06/2023 23:16

It sounds like you are convincing yourself and inventing reasons for him not to go tbh.

Exactly this. "unsure about it because it is December and he gets unwell in the cold". 🙄

Wolfiefan · 18/06/2023 23:16

I agree. Looks like you’re looking for reasons not to spend the money. If your a child wants to go and you can afford it then do.

Original poster
Campmatt · 18/06/2023 23:22

He really does get unwell in winter, colder climes, and it is a water sports type camp.

The deposit is non refundable.

I would be hopefully working, but I would be a probationary period. However, if it was warmer weather I would take the risk.

Given I have just had 2 more strike days. Bearing in mind strike days will mean I would also lose pay, and I am currently unemployed (with no access to benefits). Given we have not had any family holiday since before covid.

So worst case:

  1. I lose deposit and camp is off.
  2. He goes but gets unwell and I have to collect anyhow. That they means more time off work unpaid if he needs a decent recovery period. No family nearby at all.
OP posts:
Original poster
Campmatt · 18/06/2023 23:24

I don't think I am inventing things, for example in 2.5 weeks time there are more teacher strikes. Obviously the strikes are going to continue into the next academic year..

It is just the financial circumstances right now are very tight.

OP posts:
Original poster
Campmatt · 18/06/2023 23:26

If the camp was in warmer weather I would take the risk because it would be better for his health, I would have more time to save and manage any shock loss of deposit and/or strike days as I would hopefully then have enough service to book holidays etc and would save some for industrial action of teachers.

OP posts:
Original poster
Campmatt · 18/06/2023 23:27

But I accept it comes across like I am inventing reasons.

Right now I can't afford it.

OP posts:
Confused2124 · 18/06/2023 23:28

It sounds like you are trying to convince/justify him not going. Maybe contact the school with your concerns about losing your deposit if there are strikes. I would say the chances of strikes being on the exact same days of this trip are highly unlikely.

stardust40 · 18/06/2023 23:44

I know during strikes there would be very few teachers who would strike during a residential so I don't think this is even worth worrying about.

If you don't have a job is your child eligible for pupil premium? If so you could approach the school and ask if some of his funding could go towards this trip. We are currently funding half of each pp child's PGL trip from their pp funding.

You could get travel insurance against him getting I'll do if he doesn't go you get your money back.

BloodyCatArgh · 18/06/2023 23:49

Have you asked what would happen in the event of a strike? I'd do that first.

Wolfiefan · 18/06/2023 23:53

You can’t afford it. So he doesn’t go.
It is winter time? They won’t be sleeping under canvas and swimming in the sea. Not relevant.