PFB missing out on panto trip. I can't complain can I?!

[longdiling]

So we had a letter home about a panto trip next week. It said to get the slip and money back today or their space would be given away. I send it in today and dd gets told she's too late and all the spaces have gone.

Turning the letter over and seeing the info in Welsh (it's a Welsh school but I don't speak it v well) and it says on there to 'get it in as soon as possible' to secure a place. This bit has clearly been left out of the English translation.

Obviously as a mumsnetter I am fuming and heartbroken and shaking with rage at the idea of my darling PFB missing out unfairly. I would be that parent if I complained though right? Or kept her off school on that day?! The injustice!!

I'm not sure tbh. They need it pointing out that their translations aren't matching - I'm sure many parents support bilingual education, but aren't fluent themselves, and they need to allow for that. On a grumpy day I would point out that they are discriminating against non Welsh speakers.

I think you're perfectly within reason to point out that the translation doesn't match. Because if it did you would have sent money and permission in as soon as you received the letter and that in this case they have given one group of students more chance of securing a place in what is effectively a first come, first served situation. Which is unfair.

I think you have to accept that your DD isn't going on the trip though. If it's during school time and many are going through I would assume they'll be doing "fun" stuff in lessons though which she may enjoy as well.

I found out yesterday that everyone except my DD was told about a trip to Rome and it's too late for her to go. I won't do anything about it but it has disappointed me as she would have loved to have gone. The reason she didn't get the form was due to something not her fault which makes it worse that no one thought about her.

Oh no goingtobe, missing out on a trip to Rome is awful :( poor kid. Thanks mint and fourcorners, I think I'll email and point it out to them in a non-confrontational manner. And also book some panto tickets for us to go as a family another time.

I know. We were hoping to go to Italy next year but we've got a puppy now so don't think we can go.

As a Welsh-speaker and staunch supporter of all things Welsh, I think you should tell the school that their translation wasn't up to scratch. This kind of fuckup affects people's attitudes towards the Welsh language and so it should be dealt with.

I hope the puppy is some consolation at least goingtobe. Pidlan, I should imagine most parents at the school are English speaking as their first language due to the area it's in. I may not be the first parent to complain!

I'm happy to have her. DD would rather go to Italy, longdiling.

I would question the need for equality in the school. All pupils should have been able to go to the panto as they are supposed to give equal opportunity to all. Ok accept that a visit to Rome you need to have a deadline but bit different for a trip to what is I assume a local theatre.
I would agree with Pidlan. Ask them to explain how they failed to put the important bit on the letter in English and ask them how they would respond to Estyn inspection in these circumstances under section 2.4.1 on ethos, equality and diversity.

I've sent a pretty laidback email for now, just pointing out their translation error and that we were disappointed. I'm at the start of my relationship with the school and don't want to go in too hard when we've been otherwise happy so far. I will bear that in mind though if it becomes a regular issue admission. I went to a bilingual school myself and the Welsh kids were definitely treated more favourably than those of us with little Welsh language skills. I really hope that won't be the case here.

I don't think that's fair at all on your DC - first come first served (as the Welsh implies) is completely different to get it in my the date specified. I'd expect them to do a ballot on the date specified if they do it that way. So yes I would complain that they've (presumably inadvertently) disadvantaged all the non-Welsh speakers who weren't given the right information.