School trip worry

[Homesweethome3]

Hi everyone,

really need some advice please.
basically my 7 year old who has autism and attends mainstream school is due to go on a school trip at the end of this month. This already gives me anxiety as the change in her routine causes meltdowns and masking all day on the trip is going to be hell when she gets home.
she went on a school trip when she first started year 1 to a local farm and had a great day. However this time the trip is to a boat museum…
my little girl is absolutely petrified of germs especially old stuff- ironic as she loved the farm. We can’t watch anything on tv that has anything old looking on it as she freaks out she won’t eat after etc.
a few days out in the past as a family to a museum (when it first was made apparent how strong this fear is) on a uk break have resulted in her not eating all day for the fear of food having germs on.
anyway the other night she was talking to me about it and asked if I could show her pictures so she can see if she’ll like it- it looks great fun! Sadly my daughter completely freaked out after she was sweating and crying just by looking at photos of this old boats decor… refused to lay in bed incase it was in the bed 💔.
ive spoke to the school who said the teacher was going to call me a for chat this was before the above incident happened but she never did.
then at pickup Friday I told her what happened and I explained I’m not sure what to do- deep down she wants to go she doesn’t wanna be left out but at the same time she just cant face it. Her teachers reply was ideally all children need to attend the trip….. but she’s gonna talk to the year leader and let me know.

I wish I could go with her, but unfortunately it’s fallen on the same day as my partner goes away on a stag weekend for his BIL and I’ll have no one to watch her baby brother. I can’t keep her off as her attendance has been poor this year

It's very difficult and depends on your child's needs. Clearly you have been able to discuss the worries with your daughter and it seems that she is appropriately placed in main stream rather than a unit for children with profound nuero atypical autistic behaviours. It doesn't sound as though you have been very pro active and your child's education must come before any entertainment, socialising etc. This visit is happening in school time and part of your child's routine is going to school and you must get her there. If your child has statemented autism spectrum disorder your child should have one on one supervision on the trip but you clearly need to sit down with representatives from the school and the SENCO advisor on how your daughters autism is to be managed so she doesn't lose out. Your daughter also needs to learn that she can't opt out of activities which can and should be adapted for her. Unless these things are put in place you are going to have continuous battles in getting her into school which is going to get you into trouble and dig for her a deeper hole. Your problem is not unusual and there are ways of dealing with it appropriately to include your child.