How do you handle primary school residentials

[Sprogonthetyne]

DS is 8yo and autistic. He attends an ARP school with a unit, but also spend a fair amount of time in the mainstream class and has friends in the mainstream cohort.

The school run residential trips every year in years 4, 5 & 6, so this year is the first time we've had a letter home about one. His friend are aparently going and he would like to go, but I'm not sure because of his care needs. He has full time 1:1 whenever he's in the main class, and would probably need a higher level of supervision on the trip, which I'm not sure if the school will be able to facilitate, or if it's fair to expect them to.

they sent the letter home and haven't said anything about not being able to take him. I'm in school for an unrelated start of year meeting with the SEN staff tomorrow, so will ask them then, just trying to get an idea of what's normal.

Request a meeting with the SENCO and whoever is running the trip.

The school should not exclude DS from the trip even if he needs 1:1.

Have a read of the supporting pupils at school with medical conditions statutory guidance.

Slightly different as my daughter is in mainstream with a 1:1, but she went on her residential last year at a PGL center. They did say that while she would have 1:1 support, they couldn't guarantee it would be her 1:1 as they can't force any staff member to go. As it happens it was, and she could take her for quiet time when needed. The other thing they said (which I'd already expected) is that they couldn't help with personal care beyond giving reminders and she absolutely could not share a room with any adult. DD managed fine but fell asleep on the coach back and was absolutely shattered for a few days after.
I need to talk to them about this years residential as it's to France, and involves a lot of activities where she won't be able to step away and have quiet time easily, so that's a bit harder whether to send her.

Schools can provide personal care. They would need to plan for it, but they can.

I've spoke to the school and think he's going to go. One of the TA's that he works with often can go with him and I've also made tentative plans to have some practice sleepovers at a friend's house beforehand, to hopefully get him use to sleeping away from me.

I didn't push it as DD is capable of doing it, she just tends to forget. They were happy to remind her to brush her teeth, hair, etc.