I've only today got back from a school trip with the kids. You should let them go imo otherwise you're denying them a valuable educational experience. i'm in Richmond as well!

a lot of the children from ds' school went to the wetlands recently.. we missed out on that trip this year,, we are in Roehampton.. so not far..

Hi Mrswallet, ds school is in Barnes SW london and they do lot of out school activities like visits to parks, museums, historic houses.  This week they will go to the Wetland Centre that it is not far from the school either.

im pleased that you had a nice time.. i wish that our school did trips to the seaside but they dont but i would have definately let my ds go.. he is in year 1 but is still only 5..

just out of curiousity which aprt of london do you live in?? just you said that your lo went to richmond park on a picnic and thats just down the road from me..

I had problems with the computer and I believe my previous message didn't update properly.  Anyway, DS had a lovely time and the weather was good.  DD did very well as well far from me all day.

Well ladies, the trip is tomorrow and finally in the last minute and after refusal from H (he doesn’t deserve the D in the front) to go "alone", I manage to get a friend of mine (she offered herself) to stay with DD and I can go with him.

DS was so disapointed that he could not go that he was breaking my heart and I was crying many times. When I finally told him yesterday that he could go and I was going with him he was over the moon.

The only thing I hope now is that we have good wheather. Thanks again for your responses.

My dd is 5 and in year 1.  They are going to Blackpool on Friday to the aquarium and to a sandcastle competition on the beach.  I did put my name down to go with them but havent been picked as too many parents volunteered.  I have been on trips before so know the teachers keep tight control of the kids and keep them in small groups.  i wouldnt even think about not letting her go.  Sure you can get some reassurance from the teachers.

I took my year 2 and 1 to the beach last week and we had an absolutely fabulous time. All teachers have to do a very strick risk assessment before they go on a trip and take plenty of adults so the children will be in small groups. I cannot stress enough how much these children got out of this trip, they loved it. Also, much of the work we have done since has been related to the trip.

The school will have done a risk assesment on the trip. It will cover what could happen and how they can reduce the risk of it. Would you feel any better if you saw this as then you would see how much behind the scenes planning and thought really goes into the trip? If so, I'm sure they wouldn't mind showing you.

No I can not take DD with me.  I understand them if they let sibblings that would become a families holiday and they need all the adults to supervise the school kids not our own babies.

I have been with him once to the science museum.  I was heavily pregnant and the one after was kew gardens and it was going to be one week before I was due so I didn't want to run the risk to have the baby there.  All the rest of the trips have been after I had DD so I couldn't go. All the trips have been done by coach or double decker bus special for school hires (the children love them)

I know it is silly but it is I think 100 miles away.  I will speak to DH again tonight and we will decide. thanks for your posts

I see your point, but imo it doesn't really matter how far they go or where... all the places you have mentioned he's been to, he could have wandered off and got lost or something similar. The coach is just as likely to have an accident on any road, not just a motorway.

As I said before, it's your decision and no one will knock you for that, but I don't fully understand your worries, especially as he's been on so many school trips before.

Did you go those other times? How did they travel to these places? I know you say you live in London, but London's a big and busy place.

Could you go and take your 20 month old too? I took dd2 on dd1's pre-school trip... just a suggestion.

DS has been in many trips, science museum twice, kew gardens, other couple of historic houses, Natural History Museum, Portrait Gallery....Picnic in Richmond Park, and many more but they were all short distances and didn't include motorways.

My worry in this one is that it is an open space and he maybe lost and the coach trip itself.

I don't know I maybe overreacting.

My dd also went on a trip to the Natural History Museum with Rainbows, and she had the most fantastic time! She is very independent and grown up though, so it also depends on the child imo.

I would personally let him go. I think he'd miss out on a whole new experience if he didn't. My dd is 6 and also in yr1, and she went on a school trip a few weeks ago. She had a fab time, and the children were very well supervised. I went on school trips and I have very fond memories of mine... as far as I'm aware, ALL children went from my dd's class.

I understand your concerns, and I worried a little, but at 6 they're pretty responsible (well my dd is) and I'm sure the trip has been very well planned and will be well 'staffed'.

Obviously the decision lies with you though.

Mmmmm... i see your point, never thought of it like that...well you can only do what you think is best...

Last year he didn't go and instead, we went to the London Aquarium.  He enjoyed but the next day at school everyone was talking about the seaside and drawing pictures and he felt left out.

hi su

i wouldnt let him go...... aimee is in reception she is one of the oldest in her year they went to the resivours for there trip and i went with her she wouldnt of gone if i were unable to go and we havnt any family near either... isnt there anyone that could look after your little one while you went on the trip ?..or isnt there a friend that you trust that could go with him on the trip ?...my opinion is not to let him go and go out together as a family perhaps to the zoo or something, a friend of mine did this, she wouldnt let her son go because she couldnt go (she also had a younger child), so she stopped him going and they all went to the zoo instead....

i dont know what the ratio of adults per a child is, but at aimee`s school they have 1 adult to 3 children...

any views?

DS is 6 yrs old and in Year 1.  Reception, Year 1 & 2 are going to Brighton as a school day trip.  We are in London by the way.

Would you feel confortable letting him go?

We didn't let him go last year as we thought he was too young. The school told me they have been doing this trip for 8 years, children are closely monitored and going to be in an enclosed area and only going to the sea 4 by 4 and with adult supervision.  (I don't remember how many adults with those 4 children)

Last year only DS and other kid from his class didn't do the trip that I know off.  I don't know from other classes. He was a bit sad that he couldn't go so I don't know what to do this year. I know other mothers in his class that always go to these trips as they wouldn't let their kids to go anywhere if they don't go as well but I can not do that as I have got DD 20 mths old.  DH is very busy in his job in case a suggestion is for him to stay with her. I have already asked him.  And we don't have ANY family around at all.

Have you been in similar situation. Are you ok letting your lo do such a long trip? Thanks