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Opting out of school trip

aliphil

Hi, 

My daughter is 13 and in y9. Next term, her year has what they call an "enrichment week" when they do different activities reach day. Most of it will need fine, but one day they're taking them to Thorpe Park. My daughter does not cope well with crowds or noise, and she really hates rides, so doesn't want to go. 

The problem is, the school has given us the cost and said it's for the whole week and opting out of specific activities isn't an option. Daughter wants to do the other activities in the week so I'm not opting her out of the whole thing, but at the same time, I suspect most of the cost is to cover the Thorpe Park trip and I rather object to paying for that, as she'll either refuse to go, or will go and sit somewhere with a book and her ear defenders which she could just as well do at home!

I want to write to the school and point out that her autism means she won't cope with this trip, and making it a condition of enjoying the rest of the week is treating her unfairly because of her SEND. Most of the stuff I've found online is about pushing for children to be included in school trips. Can anyone help me find a good and convincing way to put my case to the school? Even better if you can help me make the point I shouldn't have to pay for it ...

Thanks very much!

  • I find the book “reasonable adjustments for autistic children” by Luke Beardon really useful for thinking through my rationale and/or the legal rationale for asking for an adjustment/modification to suit individual needs. 

    Sorry to hear the school are not being flexible. If they lump a trip that children with differing needs can’t benefit from in with other activities it doesn’t seem unreasonable to request and be provided with a discount to the value of one share of the coach ride and one share of the group ticket into the park. Better still the school would provide flexible options to start with…. 

  • This sort of thing enrages me, how is Thorpe Park "enriching", entertaining maybe, fun probably, if you like that sort of thing, but if you don't it's hell. I'd just tell them, no she's not going and if I had to I'd keep her off school that day. Why are they trying to force an autistic child to do something they find so distressing? Maybe you could ask them how they will cope with her having a meltdown if she gets overwhelmed, where theres no quiet rooms or safe places, ask why terrifying her is a good thing? Ask if torture is character building and enriching, because torture is what it is for those of us with autism