School Changing Trip Destination 3 days before travel

FatVonD

Would the providers of your course move your booking to another day?

duchy

Sounds like the coach company didn't book the ferry.

Basically the trip is for your son.
As the departure time is now later you won't be the only parent who won't be able to stay and wave him off (and embarrass him by crying or blowing kisses ) So if the course date can't be changed (Have you asked) then follow the school's more than sensible suggestion of dropping him off.

I don't see why the school should pay for your neediness, Even if the trip had gone ahead to the IOW there is every possibility that had they managed to rebook it could have been a later departure time anyway if only a later ferry was available.

This trip is about your son - but you are making it all about you. If you take the common sense approach to him that you can't be there but will say your goodbyes at 8.30 he'll likely not be upset or worried. If on the other hand you wail and bemoan the fact that you couldn't stand waving your hanky at the departing coach whilst bravely holding back your tears....then yes he likely will be upset too.

Plenty of parents no doubt won't be able to get time off (or will choose not to) from the working day at such short notice. In all honesty the moment the waving parents are out of sight the kids are so excited they will have forgotten about you anyway.

Mojisola

mossstitchmama wrote: »

Every year, the years 5 and 6 in my sons school go on a residential weekend visit.

School secretary suggested I drop son off at 8.30 and go to my course. What part of "I am going to see my son off on an trip do you not understand?"

What's the difference between saying goodbye to your son at 8.30 or 10?

Did you really say that to the secretary?

Buzzybee90

Bit of a generalisation about Norfolk & IOW. I live near the island and it is nice but on festy weekend it will be a disaster... I've been to the festival and it's bad enough in the middle of the night. I've visited Norfolk every year I can remember, including two years on school journey and blooming loved it... Funnily enough the year above were jealous as they'd gone to the iow!

Personally I'd just tell him he's going to have a great time... Can't you plan a trip (not sure where you are but guessing between Norfolk and iow?) to the island as a family?

But the waving off thing is very important for a lot of parents and children, remember they're only 10/11 and it will be first time away from mum and dad for most.

jaylee3

Mojisola wrote: »

What's the difference between saying goodbye to your son at 8.30 or 10?

Did you really say that to the secretary?

I thought that too...... :eek:

What part of "I am going to see my son off on a trip do you not understand?"

I bet her name is mud in that school right now.

FatVonD

I wanted to see my son off on his year 6 trip but we'd recently moved house so he'd only known his class mates for 2 weeks. I put on a brave 'not worried in the slightest' face until the coach was out of sight and then blubbed. In fact now I come to think of it... it was much like taking him to nursery for the first time :rotfl:

moomoomama27

It is a shame he can't go to East Dene residential, it really is beautiful, but the weekend of the festival is bonkers, and purely in safeguarding terms, would be an utter nightmare even if the bookings had not been changed.

The alternative will probably be great! After all children really like the being away from home with friends, experience. Midnight feasts and time away from school!!!

I certainly don't think the school would even consider refunding your course fees, because there is no clash! You have been offered the chance to drop him off at 8.30 am leaving plenty of time for your course! At 10/11 I doubt he'd thank you for standing there blowing kisses and frantically waving

peachyprice

Is wasn't PGL, Little Canada they were supposed to be going to was it? They did the same thing to our guide trip last year, we ended up at Osmington Bay, Dorset instead.

Anyway, the long and the short of it is, no matter how much foot stamping you do it's not going to change, they can't got to IOW so you have to choose between encouraging your son to have a great time in Norfolk or get a refund and he can miss out.

I don't really know what you expect the party leader to do TBH.

duchy

I think it's more like first day of school. My little cherub was so excited he ran in without a backward glance. I didn't know whether to be relieved or mortified LOL

gingin_2

My daughter has just returned from one of these trips, I suspect it's the same school residential company as they have locations in Norfolk and IOW. She's year 5 and not one parent waved them off, we dropped them off at school and they went in for registration before getting on the coach. I truly believe it's better that way.

one child came out of school clutching the letter said that Norfolk was CR&P

I have had 2 children go to the Norfolk one and according to my daughter ( who likes her home comforts) the bedrooms are great, the food is good and the leaders were nice, that was just weeks ago. I'm sure he'll have a great time.