Outdoor educational trips

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Never ever a jolly for teachers that I have experienced, but so rewarding to see children blossoming and having different experiences.
Sadly, the high cost and the threat of Covid will mean that children are denied this.

Coming back, not cutting back.

This is not the time to attempt to reinstate school trips, far too risky for staff and others involved. In any case, the exam regulations have taken the loss of these practical components into account.
Yes, it is a shame for children to miss out on the experiences, but it is such hard work for the staff,
I remember cutting back from trips to France. All the girls thanked us as they got off the bus on our return, but hardly any parents did.

As an ex teacher of KS1 and Early Years I have to say that no school trips were a ‘jolly’ for me. I used to breath a huge sigh of relief when it was all over and no one was lost, hurt, or worse.
At this particular time I would think it unwise to do off site activities.

This has brought back memories of a school trip we took to Russia. I was the Russian speaker. I don't know how many times I counted those teenagers on, in and off buses! We didnt get to bed til after midnight then had to be up early,again checking rooms. Having said that, it was a fantastic trip. I will always remember standing in Red Square with St Basil's Basilica in front of me, Lenin's tomb behind, the gates of the Kremlin occasionally opening to let out some dignitary and the snow gently falling. We went in late January. We started in Leningrad (as it was then) and travelled by train to Moscow. It was a fabulous trip and the school helped pay for children who would have struggled. It all happened just before Glasnost too so it felt like we were living through history. I could go on for ages.

We always helped out children who couldn't go for financial reasons.
I worked in an area of high deprivation, so there were quite a few children.

These trips are very expensive though. I think my GDs was £300 plus for a 5 day trip. My DD has 4 children including twins. There was no way they could afford it. No help from the school. You either paid up and went or stayed behind at school and were put in a class below.

It was surprising how some quiet and shy children blossomed on these trips.
I always remember one very effeminate boy, who was always being mocked for his Irish dancing hobby, climb the 60ft tree before anyone else.
He gained so much Kudos that day. It was a joy to witness his sense of achievement.

Sparklingsilver, as a child I was like you and turned down a funded trip, as I thought I would have hated it.
I realised was so wrong, when I went as a teacher.

I looked at this and must admit as a child would have hated it all. Cold, wet walking through woods certainly not my idea of fun. Went camping once and never again. The same goes for family seaside holidays - boring as hell. Set me down in a library surrounded by books more my thing.

M0nica

The majority of school outings are not 'jollys', nor do they last a 'very long time'

DGS is in Year 6, the last year at junior school. At the beginning of the school year he should have spent a school week at an activity centre. This outing is enormously good for all the children. Many children have never slept away from home on their own before and many of the children come from poor homes so have never been on holiday before. It was of immense benefit to DGD, who gained in assurance and confidence and DGS had been really looking forward to it.

I used to plan "Kingswood' 2 nights' stay for the Year 6 children. These took place just before half term so the staff could catch up with some sleep on returning home. We had one hour off before lights out as the centres' staff would do an activity for all the children together e.g. disco / circus tricks /film. Then we'd be lucky to get a couple of hours sleep. 2nd night was always better as a full days activities after little sleep, the children were exhausted.

So agree with you M0nica Children really benefit from these type of residential stays both emotionally and socially as they give them the chance to mix with other children from around the UK. We never planned more than 2 nights as many of our children came from socially deprived homes and couldn't afford any more. We managed to get subsidies for a few families.

I've done it all, rock climbing, gorge walking, etc. The one I refused to do was climbing the 60ft trees! ?

I was once thrown in a rock pool by an instructor and some pupils. Some walkers passed and commented: That child is having a great time! My colleague replied: That's not a child, that's their teacher!
I loved those trips, but it meant little sleep and bone numbing exhaustion.

A friend who taught French says the one time he reverted to English was when counting his class back onto the coach in Paris
I was struck (if that is the word) at the casual attitude of French or German staff on the return leg of exchange visits.
The French would get on the coach with a casual “Tout le monde est là?” (Everybody there?)
Whereas we, to copy a phrase, counted them all out and counted them all in again - about every half hour.

Rock climbing and mountain biking Maw. I think bl**dy not. I'll be in my room with a book.

Maw the stuff of nightmares.................
Our own DC went on residential trips with school and I still have their camp diaries. Wonderful! 2 weeks in the Highlands in P7 with parent visit allowed in the middle. Possibly a phone call and letters home!.

DGC had trips until this year. Not sure what's happening now.
I never envied the teachers on these occasions.
A friend who taught French says the one time he reverted to English was when counting his class back onto the coach in Paris.

GagaJo

Off on a week long school trip on Sat. Dreading it. I'm too old for all that malarkey.

I did my last one aged 61.
You’ve got years in you yet!

Off on a week long school trip on Sat. Dreading it. I'm too old for all that malarkey.

My 10 yr old DG was lucky to be able to go on her school trip this year in March. It was just before lockdown and she had an amazing time. A week away, experiencing and learning new things with her school friends.

What a shame other children will be unable to have this wonderful time away from home. I really don’t think it would be feasible at this time.

Not a ‘jolly’ for the teachers , giving up their time . It must be exhausting.

Jolly?
I should cocoa!
Apart from the sheer exhaustion, the responsibility , because there is always one kid regardless of age with a death wish, the 12 page risk assessment, the lack of sleep as you will be up all night, the setting of work for the classes you will miss and then marking the stuff when you get back, returning your classroom to less than a bomb site, putting your dog into kennels at your own expense, making arrangements for the children (thanks Mum/MIL) filling the freezer, catching up on the laundry and ironing....
Need I go on?
One memorable year in the week before a residential in Germany, due to leave on the Saturday, my week was as follows
Monday - DH into into hospital 50 miles away in London with a mystery infection/suspected sepsis
Tuesday - DD2 knocked off her bike at that big roundabout at the Elephant&Castle
Wednesday- dog diagnosed with an eye problem which risked making her go blind
Thursday- DD1 (6 months pregnant) in hospital at Selly Oak with a suspected DVT ? And I was due to fly to Hamburg and there was nobody who could go in my place
Jolly?
No (repeatable) comment.
Oh that was the year I decided to retire.

The majority of school outings are not 'jollys', nor do they last a 'very long time'

DGS is in Year 6, the last year at junior school. At the beginning of the school year he should have spent a school week at an activity centre. This outing is enormously good for all the children. Many children have never slept away from home on their own before and many of the children come from poor homes so have never been on holiday before. It was of immense benefit to DGD, who gained in assurance and confidence and DGS had been really looking forward to it.

Not my idea of a " jolly " at all. Teachers are, and have to be dedicated to their jobs to take a class of children out on trips.

Having been in charge of taking 11 he olds on many residential trips, I can assure you, it's certainly not a jolly.☹️ You are on duty 24 hours a day!

I certainly wouldn't consider it at the moment.

Jolly? Don’t think so.
Teachers go well above and beyond on these trips. Love the outdoors but throw in 20 kids and I’m certainly not cut out for it!
Add Covid and it’s attendant risk and I think it’s just expecting too much of them.

Both of mine gained such value from residential trips such as PGL, and for some children those trips are life changing. It's not a great idea at the moment though.

On a PGL trip our city kids were taken on a walk through a glorious ancient Scottish forest. One had a minor stumble over a tree root and cursed loudly about 'folk leaving lumps of wood lying around'!

There's a great deal of value in these trips and I enjoyed several - though not a 'jolly' for staff.
I regretfully accept that my P7 grandson will miss out on it this year - I would have been happy to pay for it, as I did for his 2 older sisters.