General Chat

Boo has brought home a sponsership form from her school wanting her to take part in a sponsored walk to raise funds for school trips. I wouldnt normally have a problem with this but each class in the school has gone on 2 trips this apart from the special needs class which Boo is in.

A few of the mums who has children in the special needs class are not happy about this and feel as I do our children are loosing out on the fun activities because of their learning difficulties. It is also very upsetting for the children who has seen their friends in other classes go on these trips but they get nothing.

We have already made our feelings clear to the school but have been told that there will be no trips for the special needs class this year as they feel it is more important to keep them in school learning, where I would feel that this form of exclusion could make the children feel they were being punished through something which is not their fault.

There is now talk of the parents of children in this class boycotting the sponsored walk and not doing any fundraising, which I am in two minds about.

My concerns are that the children are already being treated differently would us not allowing our children to take part be felt that it is another punishment but on the other hand I dont see why the children and thier families should have to support other children going on trips when ours are being excluded.


What are your opinions on this?

Thanks

Jax xx

I feel the same as you Jax. I'd personally boycott it. FGS what difference would one day away from school having fun make in the general scheme of things??? !!! I think it's awful that Boo's class are excluded from going on trips and I certainly wouldn't be breaking my neck to raise money for something my child was being deprived of for no reason xx

Jax

So are they saying that pupils don't learn on school trips? (which I think they do)

If they are saying that pupils don't learn on trips, then why allow any children to go on trips in the first place.

Personally I think it is discrimination. Have you taken this up further than the school?

Ask the school what their inclusion policy is..............no child should be excluded from any activity that mainstream pupils are involved in.

xx

Boo and her classmates are being treated unfairly, and that is disciminatory... the reason school trips are advocated is that they are educational, and each child has the opportunity to enjoy a new learning experience in an out of school environment... in my opinion the school is well out of order, and for them to expect EXCLUDED children to provide spport for those very activities they have been excluded from is just disgusting.

I would address the issue to the Head, to the Chair of the Board of Governers, and to the local Education Authority... but I think I would be magnanimous and allow my child to join in the experience of the fund raising, and make sure that this is well known by all staff at the school!!

A big huge banner springs to mind.... Boo's class raises funds for trips she and her classmates are excluded from because of their learning difficulty* seems like a good one!

Love Daff... who is incensed that Boo is being treated this way!! xxxx

I'll sponsor her, by the way. xxxx

Aren't school outings supposed to be educational trips?If so,why do the special needs students need to be kept in the school learning when they could be out somewhere different learning?Of course,if I am wrong and school trips are not educational,why on earth should you be paying for the other student's jollies anyway?

I think I would make my opinions known first Jax.......in my experience in my children's schools, and now grandchildrens' they go to great pains to include everybody........but then there is no special needs class........but I cannot see that should make a difference........if the needs are for carers for the children, I am sure there are plenty of people around who would be only too willing to help......

If it were me, as I said, I would talk to the head and the school governors about it first........but I agree, it does not seem fair, and because it is not, I think you are quite right in expecting an explanation.....

It does seem a bit galling, if you are constantly expected to put your hand in your pocket for the general good, if part of the school is being sidelined....

Good luck with whatever you decide to do, and please come back and let us know the outcome....x sally

Thanks Muffy I dont wish to do any fundraising for the school now when I used to do quite a bit, I really dont understand their reasoning.

Lesley

Thats what us parents think that the trips are part of education in many ways.

We have had a meeting with the teacher, head and school governor to no avail and was told all children have to take part.

Us parents are having a meeting at one of their houses tomorrow morning to see where we go from here and write up a letter to send to the educational authority to state our concerns, which will be signed by us all.

Then Newspaper springs to mind....... they are not being very helpful, at Boo's school, are they?

That has made me soo CROSS!!

Love

Daff xxx

All children have to take part in the sponsored walk? Is this in school time? If so, what about their learning needs?

Jax I may be wrong here... but I do not believe that children can be FORCED to go on a fund raiser, anyway how DARE they???....... you say that you have been told that all the children HAVE to go!!

My blood is beginning to boil...... and my finger is ready to press the button for the Western Mail and Echo, Dragon and REAL Radios and everyone else!!

So time out of lessons for a sponsored walk is compulsory but Boo's class are excluded from trips.??
I think it unfair to discriminate in this way.
What must it feel like to see others go off and then yourself be expected to work in the classroom.?

Gwyn

Jax,

You can't be expected for Boo to raise funds that exclude her group (or any group) from the benefits of those funds.

FGS how insensitive are the school?

Leaving the SN class in school whilst others are off on a jolly will do nothing for their confidence and in some will surely cause resentment and disruptive behaviour.

Have you spoken with members of the PTA?

I am furious that any education department consider this acceptable. A call to the Welsh Assembly wouldn't go amiss.

BTW if your MP is the same as mine, which I expect he is, don't bother with approaching him! PM me for details.

Let us know what happens, good luck

Sue xx

Good point there Secret.....

I have no experience of special needs classes, and what special needs they include.......if this class is part of the school, then it should be included in all school activities, including outings with the school........otherwise it is no more than segregation.....

I feel so sorry for Boo and her friends if she sees her friends doing things that she and her class are not allowed to participate in.......and I agree with Daff.......it makes you so mad.....

Very good point Squirrel!!
Can't go on educational trips - can't go on sponsored walk.
Jax, if this is in school time, bearing in mind the schools views - you and the other parents of children in Boo's class could INSIST they have a lesson instead - and hope they don't comply - or could arrange your own outing for the children during the sponsored walk, (something that won't cost, like a nature walk) and insist they would at least be learning about the local area - much more educational than walking in circles to sponsor other children.

maggie

Daff I like your idea of the banner and allowing the children to take part, will bring that up in tomorrows meeting. Thanks hun xx

Sally a few of the children are statemented so have their own one to one teachers who would go on the trip plus there are numerous L.S.A. and parents who normally help out on trips myself included. So there is no problem with that.

Thanks everyone for your opinions I will make a copy of this make some notes for the meeting as you have raised some good points xxxxx

I'd get Daff heading your campaign Jax....she's well scarey! lol

To answer your question, I think it's appalling what they are saying. You stand up to them girl!

How dare they !

I would take this further.

This is discrimination and to ask them to raise funds for every other child other than them to go on these school trips is disgusting !

If you get no luck try your local citizens advice, who will let you know if they are in breach of discrimination

Good Luck !

Sue... you have it in a nutshell..... I have steam coming out of my ears!! I worked in an SN school for 6 years... I know how vital school trips are to social and academic development!

Welsh Assembly... Go to the head honcho, Rhodri Morgan... and who is the Welsh Assembly Schools rep? Grrrrrr!!!

Love

Daff xxx

Daff and Jax,

Just read the thread to OH, he is still ranting! Isn't the aim to integrate these children into society not segregate them...aaaargh!!!!!!

x