Volunteered for reception school trip-help!

[mondler]

Hi, my kid's teacher asked me to accompany them on a school trip to a farm. Stupidly I didnt say no and I'm now wondering what I've let myself in for. Has anyone gone on one and have any tips or advice?

I did at least 4 school trips with my DD's year. I did at least 1 a year prior to Covid. As a front line NHS staff, with an enhanced DBS I usually got lumbered with the toilet supervision, and the mild health issues. Always had my DD and up to 3 others. I swore blind that the teachers phoned my manager to find out when my day off was, as they always fell on on my days off. I work full time doing 4 10 hour shifts a week. They were fun, but stressful keeping an eye on them all.

This really made me laugh.

I helped out on a trip to London (from Kent). We had to get the train. Constantly counting and it was like herding cats. I did enjoy it though.

One other thing, always keep your group in front of you, and stand in a place you can see them all and are between them and the exit when doing an activity.
When walking between places get them to walk two by two holding hands. If you have a bolter, the other child will likely hold onto him for the crucial two seconds for you to notice and call their name and say “I am watching you, keep walking nicely please”. If you want to get really into it, get your little group together at the beginning and tell them that you want your group to get the best score for good behaviour on the trip and ask them what do they think they can do which means their teacher will give you all a good score.. then remind about ‘the score’ at strategic intervals

I absolutely loved doing school trips some of my fave memories of DD's primary years.

My top tip - make sure you confidently know which are in your group. They'll all mix up at lunchtime and it can be hard identifying which of the navy anorak'd kids are yours and which are Parent B's.

Loving all these tips and stories thank you

Good luck 🤞😁 It will definitely be a memorable (and utterly exhausting!) day for you and your child. I have done many school trips as a parent and a teacher, and I guarantee you will be shattered by the end of the day.

Chuckling to myself about everyone saying you'll be exhausted, take paracetamol and have alcohol ready. This is how Early Years & KS1 teachers feel every day!

So true - I take my hat off to the Early Years and KS1 teachers out there.

I'm very sure that is correct! It's one of many reasons why I never chose teaching as my profession and why 2hrs/wk of being a volunteer parent reader is more than enough, thank you very much! 😂 They are delightful, but in very small doses...

Do not use plasters or give snacks and drinks to children you don’t know.

What you do need to do is grow eyes in the back of your head, listen to and stick to any instructions about timings for lunch/ coach/ activities , and head count ,head count, head count.

Remember if your child is put in your group that you are there to manage all the group so make sure they get a fair share of your attention. If your child is not put in your group then trust the adult looking after them and keep your distance.

Following as in volunteering on a school trip next week!

Be ready to hear the question 'when are we having lunch' about a million times

This. You won’t be expected to take them to the toilet. All you have to do is not lose them. Anything else is the teachers responsibility. You certainly won’t have to deal with any medical issues.