Changes to child restraint laws enforced this month are causing havoc for one Western Bay primary school which is now struggling to offer its junior students educational outings.

From November 1 the age of children required to travel in an approved child restraint increased from five-years-old to seven.

Katikati Primary School students Miles Jonson, 6, Leo Willacy, 6, Nate McKeown, 5, and Hannah Gourlay, 6, are upset that new booster seat rules mean they may miss out on educational trips.

It is a move aimed at increasing child safety on New Zealand roads, but Katikati Primary School deputy principal Anne Morriss says it's preventing ‘highly beneficial' trips for junior students.

She says the school cannot afford to purchase the number of booster seats required for travel for its 170 children aged seven and under.

'The implications for us are huge. As a school, this poses two issues: it will be a great expense [to provide booster seats for those without them], and where are we going to keep all of these seats?”

Anne says the ratio of children to parents will also decrease, because most private vehicles can only fit two seats in the back, whereas before you could fit three youngsters in the backseat.

Her school now has to ensure all students under seven have seats to travel anywhere – 'including those from low socio-economic backgrounds, who may not own their own seat”.

'I personally think it's a real pity because what is going to end up happening is nobody will plan anything that is an outdoor education opportunity.”

Anne says while some schools can charge parents for excursions, 'for many of our families this will be prohibitive, and we will not be able to afford a bus”.

Katikati Primary offers three trips a year to its 300-plus junior students (14 classes), of which170 children are under the age of seven, but Anne says 'this will probably be down to nil”.

'Our children are not going to get learning opportunities outside of the school, which are so beneficial – even our local heritage museum is too far to walk,” says Anne, who is looking to offer activities within walking distance.

The school will also have to purchase three booster seats to have 'on tap” for children needing transport in an emergency or when ill.

'We're disadvantaged in we're not in the city and we do have to travel for things.”

An approved restraint is one that suits the child's height and weight, as specified on the seat. This can be a harnessed child restraint, a full backed booster seat, or a half booster cushion.

What do you think? Comment here.