Paying for school trips.

Oldernotwiser

pupsicola wrote: »

I have spoken with the head at my sons school as I simply cant afford to pay out for all the wonderful things they lay on for them. The class teacher was being a bit rude and kept reminding me to pay up in front of other parents. It states voluntarily so they cant force you and they cant excluide the child. Stand your ground

Just because it's voluntary doesn't mean that you shouldn't make some attempt to contribute what you can! As said before, parents receive substantial amounts for their children's needs, part of which is school trips.

This is particularly true when 3 months ago you were able to post

"My hubby and I paid off our 115k mortgage in 4 years. It was bloody hard work but so worth it.

Now we have a new major outlay though - kids school fees :rolleyes: ."

JimmyTheWig

Skinnymoo wrote: »

All I wanted was to know if there is any help, I have ALWAYS paid for him, and will be this time, as I really don't think I can ask the school. I did just wonder as I have seen mentioned on this board, that some parents don't pay.

I'm confused by this.
Did you really think there might have been a way to not pay without talking to the school about it?

bubblegumcola

At our local school the trips are an optional extra, you don't have to go and some children do choose not to. Our school trips usually cost £7 or £8 each but we do get s few weeks notice so it can be paid up at £1 or £2 a week. There is a big trip in p7 and it costs around £200. The parents pay in instalments throughout the year, big chunks of £50 a time which is alot of money for anyone. There were about 4 or 5 who chose not to go. I've never heard of anyone getting help with trips at my school, maybe some schools might have a school fund to help with things like this.

I think the best thing is maybe for the future have a jar for change you can fill up and you be amazed how much you can accumulate, keep it specifically for trips. Do they just have one trip a year or a couple? Usually we have one at the start of the school year and one at the end.

It is difficult, I find our school is forever asking for money at every opportunity. If you have more than one child at school it really does mount up. Between trips, non-uniform days, raffles, school shows and then fundraising for charity, even parents night they catch you for something. I've taken to leaving my purse at home on those nights!

notlongnow_2

My childrens schools dont have a fund to pay for school trips for struggling parents. I had a lengthy conversation recently as I was a littlefed up of having to pay out all the time. She informed me that they get no help from the government with school trips even though it is the government that states that children must be educated outside the school environment. She said that most do pay but if people choose not too then the trip has to be cancelled as they cannot dip into school funds.

I dont want others to be paying for my children by them paying more than they need too for their own child and so I always pay.

I have given school over £252 this month for a competition weekend last weekend where I was told the final price last week, which was way over the estimate! Luckily, I have a 'stash' of change I save including my £2 coins....needless to say my coin jar is now empty!! I bagged up and took it all in one go and explained why it was all change and said a little more notice wouldnt go amiss next time to give me time to save. I know that my boys will be getting letters which come with a cost and so I save in advance.

Good luck.

SUESMITH_2

pupsicola wrote: »

I have spoken with the head at my sons school as I simply cant afford to pay out for all the wonderful things they lay on for them. The class teacher was being a bit rude and kept reminding me to pay up in front of other parents. It states voluntarily so they cant force you and they cant excluide the child. Stand your ground

absolutly correct - its a voluntary donation, they usually say if enough parents dont pay the trip wont run but i have never known that in so they can't force payment or exclude your child. btw its usually the parents well able to afford it who quote the rules at you and refuse to pay, not us ordianary hard up folk

zappster1966

I don't know why you bother. When my kid's old enough for school trips & if we're skint he won't be going. Simple as.

arlybarly

This week mu dd had her end of year school trip letter for 27 pounds, this is on top of the prom my ds is going to tomorrow thats cost me an arm and a leg. Will my kids go, of course they will, will anyone else subsidise them, NO, then why should my hard earned cash have to subside other peoples kids, mine and oh taxes already do that. I know this sounds really harsh but i do not appologise for this as i am sick to death of having to subsidise other people. The thing that has really peeved me this week though is finding out my son will not qualify for the EMA allowance when most other kids do, the reason being is because me and hubby have a job. This allowance should not go on parents earnings but it should be paid to the kids irrespective of income. Sorry rambling and completely off the subject.

Forgot to add that we are NOT loaded its just dh did loads of overtime last year which brought his wages over the threshhold, now theres not much overtime its gone down again but they still take it on last years earnings, motto of story, dont bother working to hard as it doesnt pay in the end.

catenorfolk

how about asking the childs other parent to help with trip??

egyptiangirl

notlongnow wrote: »

.... even though it is the government that states that children must be educated outside the school environment. .....

No 'must' about it. It is down to the teacher/school. Teachers put their whole lives at risk by taking students out of school and many teaching unions advise to never take trips due to the stupid amount of risks and responsibilites and parents who try and sue if a kid falls over.

However, think back to your schools days, some of your best memories will be from trips ( if you could afford them). Mine were. However as we were on benefits there were some we couldn't do. We chose one a year.

How about asking at the start of the academic year what trips there will be? Then plan for the costs e.g at child's brithday ask for £1 for their trip fund from friends/family rather than useless stuff that soon gets ruined. ( if you celebrate birthdays!). Forget easter eggs, give a pound ( if you celebrate easter!) etc etc
If your child finds 5p on the floor, put it in the pot etc etc

The really sad thing is, like those parents who sue a teacher for giving up their time to take their son/daughter on a trip, these kinds of parents will try not to pay if they get a sniff that they 'don't have to'. Such a shame.

Good luck
yes I'm a teacher:eek:

bestpud

arlybarly wrote: »

This week mu dd had her end of year school trip letter for 27 pounds, this is on top of the prom my ds is going to tomorrow thats cost me an arm and a leg. Will my kids go, of course they will, will anyone else subsidise them, NO, then why should my hard earned cash have to subside other peoples kids, mine and oh taxes already do that. I know this sounds really harsh but i do not appologise for this as i am sick to death of having to subsidise other people. The thing that has really peeved me this week though is finding out my son will not qualify for the EMA allowance when most other kids do, the reason being is because me and hubby have a job. This allowance should not go on parents earnings but it should be paid to the kids irrespective of income. Sorry rambling and completely off the subject.

Forgot to add that we are NOT loaded its just dh did loads of overtime last year which brought his wages over the threshhold, now theres not much overtime its gone down again but they still take it on last years earnings, motto of story, dont bother working to hard as it doesnt pay in the end.

Entitlement to EMA has nothing to do with working or not! My dd was entitled to full EMA when me and my ex were both working! Funny enough, we were paying tax too! :rolleyes:

And I wouldn't say a prom has anything to do with school trips personally...

DD paid for her own prom and had a great time.