Teachers! A quick question

[User100000000000]

If an entire year group are going away for a few days and a pupil/s with SEN is either only attending part of the trip or just not going at all, do you allow them to stay off school for the days they're not on the trip? Or do you find them a class in another year group to sit with?
Thanks

It's not a teacher choice it's a school attendance policy one The school should find them a class in another year group. Whether the parent wants that / the child can cope with that is a different issue and many would just keep them off to have a nice time at home.

My DD's old school would have them at school and place them with an appropriate class, or even send them to Reception to help.

In my experience (not a teacher) children who don't go on trips attend school and are sent to other classes.

Well by "Teachers!..." I also meant Headteachers and entire school policies. Sorry I wasn't clear.

Yeah I'm the parent in this scenario and the school are saying that keeping her off would be unauthorised absence which may lead to a fine and they are pretty much insisting she goes on the trip for the daytimes only (overnight won't work, trust me), despite the fact that DD really doesn't want to go at all.
I think it would be good for her to go away into a new environment and I'm actively encouraging her to go. However I'm not happy about actually 'forcing' her. I don't think that's helpful given her SEN and the fact that it's all outdoor-based and she has massive sensory meltdowns when she gets properly soaked in the rain. I mean, she's happy to jump in puddles and get wet hair etc but abseiling & white water rafting in the pouring rain, when she's both petrified of heights, water & boats and cannot swim (swimming teacher gave up!!) might be somewhat futile!

Rather them than me! That's for sure 😬

I thought I'd just point out it wasn't a Class teachers choice because many parents seem to think teachers are responsible for things that are whole school policy, but in this case it's a whole country policy. School are correct in what they said andit can lead to a potential fine depending on overall attendance but that's a govt thing but a school one.

Having worked at an outdoor centre, children often surprised the adults around them of what they were able to do, equally children were encouraged but never forced to take part in activities.

DD/DS must still attend - the school will find alternative provision or adapt the trip to be inclusive (as far as practicable).

So even if going into another year group would cause an autistic child significant distress, the school can still insist on it? Wow. I thought we'd moved away from that kind of attitude in schools.

Re: the trip, I think what's worrying DD the most is the journey each day. As I said she def can’t stay overnight, that's not possible due to her medication (and not up for discussion anyway tbh just had to mention it) so I've got to drop her off each morning & collect her in the afternoon. The journey is 2.5 hours there & back - which I'm absolutely fine with btw. My car needs a good run and I enjoy driving on motorways. DD however gets very car sick so there's that to bloody mitigate as well! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Help!

Can you find a hotel nearby and stay closer to ensure she gets medical treatment?

You could stay with her in the day - they always need volunteers.

I found children enjoyed the camps and got a lot out of it. She might be braver than you think! Waterproofs exist!!

I don't have the money! This was my first thought so I immediately checked and the prices are £181+ per night 😫 Plus I have to pay £249 for the activities

The school must put something in place - they are required to they aren't allowed to give you permission to keep her off. Whether you send her or not is a different matter.

In terms of the trip is there a cheap travel lodge / Premier Inn that the two of you can stay in instead close to the venue save the driving and have a break as well.

Oh also they said I can’t volunteer as I'm disabled. Risk assessments apparently

It might be worth contacting the centre directly and asking them what adjustments can be made for you / her.

The fb group Not Fine in School would be a great place to answer your question. There should be a way of making sure she isn't force to attend and ensuring she is marked as an authorised absence if you are clear her needs will not be met by the school if she is placed in an unfamiliar classroom.

School should consider it a learning opportunity and a chance for the child to learn new skills and adapt something to broaden their independence or life skills perhaps.

Not quite the same situation but when we had Y10 pupils whose work experience went belly up.
(Sometimes pupils'fault'. sometimes employers 'fault', sometimes business went bust etc)

Pupils came back into school and we found them some sort of work experience be it working with ground staff, reprographics, lab technician etc. Normally it worked well.

Like I said above, the cheapest room is Premier Inn at £181 first night and £211 second night. I absolutely do not have that. It's not even about affording it, I don't have it! Not even on my credit card.

No Travelodge anywhere near and cheapest B&B is £100+ each night.

@marmiteisnttheonlyspread Would that be feasible for a 9yr old though?

@TheLurpackYears Thank you but I'm not sure that's the issue and the very last thing I need is a homeschool narrative being shoved down my throat

She either goes on the trip or goes to school would be the policy at my DDs schools.

I don't think they can (or should) force her to go on the trip but they can insist she goes to school instead and they will find work for her to do in another class

Our school says they have to be in. DS isn't SEN he just didn't want to go.

You are better off talking to school, saying the trip simply isn't possible.
2.5hrs a day travel is not particularly reasonable
It would be better for DD to do some slow transitions into the classroom she will be going into and forgetting about the trip altogether and having her alternative learning experience at school.
Often older children get put in Nursery / Reception and they really enjoy being a helper and many autistic children like being with younger ones than them so may work out well.

Thanks everyone. Yeah @Singleandproud you're probably right. School won’t like it (her teacher said "oh no she'll miss far too much to simply not go. That's not an option" 🙄 So that'll be a fun conversation.
The trip is tomorrow and I've had DD in tears saying she really doesn't want to go. So perhaps I'll suggest Reception as you're right, she does love little kids.

Thanks!

I presume you're in an area where most attend the trip. When I've worked in schools like this, children join other classes if not on the trip. Occasionally, different plans are made if a child had needs that would make this difficult for them. I would recommend you go to school and tell them that you would love for her to attend and could drive her every day, but she is adament. See if they would be open to other plans:
You take her on day 1 only, then the other days in school
She doesn't go, stays in school but learns somewhere that would feel safe (with an old teacher? SENCO/head's office? Helpingin younger class?)

Ultimately, it would be unauthorised if she stayed home because they can't authorise these circumstances. But if you know sending her in would be harmful, don't.

You don't HAVE to drop her off and pick her up.

The school are obliged to make alternative provision at the normal school premises.

Goodness how horrible. I’d go with what you want and feels best - they have to say any absence is unauthorized but as a psychologist I think you are thinking about your child’s wellbeing very admirably. That journey is too much tbh.
My year 3 son started a new school (does not have SEN) but was worried and hadn’t done a sleepover and didn’t know the other kids so didn’t want to go. Many weeks of encouragement but he was still crying. School said if he doesn’t go he can go and sit with year 1 (in a separate building with teachers he’d never met). I very calmly said I’d definitely not being doing that and I’d keep him at home. As it happened he gave it a whirl and enjoyed it.
you know your child - you do what they need.