Yr 3 staying in a youth hostel open to other residents

[luciemule]

Hello -haven't been on MN for ages but wondered if anyone had experienced the following:
Next year, my DD is potentially going on a 2 night residential trip and they're all staying in a youth hostel (a really nice one). However, when questioned, the school have said that the children will be staying in unlocked rooms of about 3. Once the staff go to bed at night, any other of the hostel residents could enter their rooms. I am very NOT ok with this set (case of Caroline Dickinson, Brittany 1996)and feel that further measures could be taken to ensure more security at night. I have written to the hostel to double check what they say and they said they issue group leaders with keys to lock all rooms but the school told me they can't lock the rooms due to fire regs. I need to talk the head about the risk assessment but she's sooooo keen on the whole school trip (as I am in an ideal world) and I fear she'll shoot me down in flames before I've begun. What's a good way to approach this and get a satisfactory outcome that doesn't result in my child not going (which is what we'd decide if nothing is done).

Colditz - just off to google Lambeth Youth Hostel.

Forgot to mention that the manager did also say that the YH has an open bar and restaurant so non-residents could be there eating and drinking in the same building as the children are sleeping until closing. This again, sounds a bit dicey when it comes to the school's risk assessment.

As I thought - cant find any YHA hostels in Lambeth. Was this some dodgy Independant Hostel?

Lucie - strange - never known any hostels where non-residents come in to eat except for the ones that have a cafe open during the day (such as Whitby); where it is impossible for people using the cafe to get into the hostel accommodation from the cafe.

London Thameside Youth Hostel is virtually in Lambeth, Squishy although I think it's technically just in Southwark.

It was a journey's hostel. 73 Lambeth walk.

So you are really saying that membership of the YHA or having a driving licence or passport is a good enough guarantee of behaviour that it makes a 'proper' Youth Hostel significantly better for children to stay in in unlocked rooms than another kind of hostel or cheap hotel?

I can't see how having ID would make that much of a difference to be honest. Unless you're thinking that the only scenario people are visualising is outright attack or murder where someone might be put off by the fact they've had to show ID?

...but it clearly wasn't London Thameside...

But they did have the same rules about identification. And my point still stands about identification not being proof of appropriate behavior around children.

Look, I don't know London. I thought Lambeth Walk was in Lambeth.

it defo is open to the public - the words of the manager were:
"yes, if someone is staying in a cottage in the village or visiting friends, they can come up for a meal in our restaurant or have a drinks at the bar." I double checked and he said non-residents.
The YH is Hartington Manor in the Peak District btw.

What I am saying is that unlike YHAs, standards in Independant Hostels can vary tremendously from being fantastic in every way to being absolutely dire.

Incidentally - YHa Hartington is one of the best YHAs I have stayed in.

It was fantastic in every way. It was still a shared bathroom and it was still a weirdo with his nuts in the sink!

Squish - it does look lovely and if they could just guarantee that it was sole-use, I'd be happy as Larry. In fact, I did rather fancy going for xmas - they do a fab package.
I'm not anti-YHs at all - just don't think this set-up is ideal.

It seems as though some people are so certain there's an irrationally hysterical paedophile-phobic parent behind every bush that it's almost an article of faith that any concern about that type of thing is a sign of irrational panic. And yet we live in a world where there are, as well as normal people who sometimes get drunk and stupid or do things like wash themselves in the sink when they shouldn't, screwed-up predatory adults who look for children in vulnerable positions. There aren't many of them, but there are some. Behaving as if they just don't exist is no more sensible than behaving as if they are everywhere so you daren't leave the house. They aren't everywhere - but they aren't nowhere either. They are somewhere, and we have to allow for the possibility that that somewhere might, by chance, happen to be near us or our children. So being cautious about the kind of overnight accommodation young children stay in when they're away from their families is quite sensible really.

you summed it up well fileitundermformaths.

Another thing the manager said yesterday was that some schools enquire about the YH and when they find out that it's not sole-use, they choose not to go there so obviously other schools are more cautious. That gave me some more good evidence to go to the school with!

But Lucie any YHA can be sole use if the school/group is prepared to pay for sole use! Why would the manager tell schools that it is NOT sole use?

Well said, fileitundermformaths. Luciemule, trust your instincts, I would keep my DCs at home for this one.

Squish - he meant it would be non- sole use if they didn't book all the rooms. It has 131 places with the main house having 19 bedrooms and then other beds in other buildings. Most schools yrs wouldn't have that many kids - our school has a double yr intake for all years so that's why there are about 50 going.

Lucie - just out of interest - if its just a walking/classroom based residential were there not any nearer hostels that the school could have booked (less than 2 hours coach ride away and with far fewer beds - thereby making sole use easier and more affordable?)

You would have thought so hmm. You would have thought that they could just go on a day trip to the countryside (we live in the middle of a rural area anyway!), walk up a hill, do some sketching and look at a different type of village and come home for tea! The yr 4s all go to York as well, which is £170 for the same amount fo time but they do do some great things and it's history linked and so is useful for learning about vikings etc. I think the yr 3 one should be scrapped personally.

Lucie - whatever you decide is best for your dd and irrespective of whether or not she actually goes - all I can say is please do not write YHAs off. They really are fabulous places to stay for a few days. Maybe you can go as a family and try it out for yourselves. YHAs have come a long way in recent years and are nothing like they used to be years ago. You will be pleasantly surprised.

I have stayed in YHA twice in the last month - am not a memeber and at no time has anyone asked me or I.D.

DH just said something in case head teacher slates me and goes on about how parents need to 'let go' of their children at some point, and that is to say that we only want to create the illusion of increased independence for the children; without taking unnecessary risk.

I want to create increased independence for my children, not the illusion of increased independence!

There is "unnecessary risk" everywhere. There is always risk. If you want you can stay home and eliminate many of the risks, or you can assess the risks and do it anyway.

My boys have benefited immensely from school residentials, and I'm delighted they've had those opportunities.