School - Money for this and that

Gingham_Ribbon

blue_monkey wrote: »

I am not in charge yet but I do not think that will work either because of childcare arrangements and having the kids there, we would not be able to talk about finances and the like with everyones kids running around. I do not have anyone at all to look after mine until hubby gets home, then there are after school clubs that a lot of the children attend and the meeting was well over an hour. We choose evenings as most people have a partner at home in the evening - this is spoken as such because the school is small and there are only a handful of SPF.

When we've had after school meetings, the support staff stay on and look after any children who need to be there, from toddlers up, they do colouring in, reading etc, and the babies stay with the mums. But we mostly wait until after kiddies' bedtimes as that seems to suit most people.

JodyBPM

In general, I don't have issues with school fundraising. I do, however, have issues with being forced to contribute (by guilt) to charities that I wouldn't normally support.

I do have issues with the fact that my children's school only seem to bank cheques once a term though. I know this is totally my fault as I should balance my cheque book, but I have £20-odd each half term lunch club, school trips £20 or so x2, dance lessons, dance outfits etc etc, all smallish amounts , say £20, and I forget about the cheques I've written, and then once a term, suddenly £200 or so comes out, yet I've written a £25 cheque here and there in the last three months. As I said, I know its my fault, and I should keep better check on it, but I just wish they'd bank the cheques soon after I write them. The amounts are not an issue, its the fact that they seem to only bank them once a term!

mrcow

JodyBPM wrote: »

I do have issues with the fact that my children's school only seem to bank cheques once a term though. I know this is totally my fault as I should balance my cheque book, but I have £20-odd each half term lunch club, school trips £20 or so x2, dance lessons, dance outfits etc etc, all smallish amounts , say £20, and I forget about the cheques I've written, and then once a term, suddenly £200 or so comes out, yet I've written a £25 cheque here and there in the last three months. As I said, I know its my fault, and I should keep better check on it, but I just wish they'd bank the cheques soon after I write them. The amounts are not an issue, its the fact that they seem to only bank them once a term!

Can you not pay cash?

I'd have to - I couldn't keep track of all that coming out weeks later than planned.

mum2one

Its the same at dds school, we had the wear anything for world book day -£1.00, now got sport relief -sponsered dance in the playground, think since Sept theres been a uniform free day each term with a donation for this or that, best was the Christmas Play, which was so PC and held at the local church hall, they had a collection plate.

I'm a member of the PTA, I only started this yr, but its unbelievable, its back biting, snapping, wheels within wheels, and I got asked if I could got hold of raffle prizes for the school - did - had over £400 worth of gifts, and did that upset the clickly few, its unbelievable. In our school theres more pta being discussed in the playground between 3 sets of parents, than the actual meeting.
The xmas fayre, nothing was arranged to the night before....the chairperson finishes this yr so could be interesting.

annoys me that the PTA are buying library books, repairs to the school, and theres a newsletter with the "primary children" teachers asking for play equipment....

JodyBPM

I don't tend to do cash. I don't know why!
As I said, its my responsibility as I should balance the cheque book. But the amounts are not significant individually, just the accumulation (especially with 2 at school) can be.
I tend to run a tight ship, with the xs in the "spends" account each month scraped to savings, and then when it all comes at once, we have no treats that month! Hell! they're actually helping us save:) I retract it all , then

Broken_hearted

Today my son took 6p for sports relief as that was all I had, my bills are paid why should the school make me feel bad`.

tessie_bear

our school always needs money for something....in the last month we have had x4 cake sales non uniform days (2) stalls afternoon...where each class sets up a tombola and the kids have a go....all money raised to the school.....i agree with previous poster that if u have 6p thats all they can have.......u would think in recession the schools might be a bit more sensitive...im ever hopeful

mrsmc_3

My sons goes to a school which is a voluntary controlled school so these fundraisers help to keep the school going !! I think that 50p here and there and baking the odd cake is not very much to ask really. And to be honest spending the odd £1 every now and again to benefit your childs school is not so bad.

tattoed_bum

It wouldnt be to bad if it was just a £1 here and there but my sons school in the last few weeks they had a rainbow day (where each year had to dress as a colour of the rainbow for Haiti ) suggested donation to that per child was £10:eek: .Then a book sale fund raiser for the school the books they sold were all sets cheapest set being £17 :eek:, They then had a football goal shoot thing and they gave prizes to the kids that had sponsers of £30 or more .

So just in the last term they have asked for a whopping £57 per child .

This didnt take into account i had to buy him something to wear rainbow day as he didnt have anything in the colour they gave his year .
Next week they are running a coffee morning thing in line with the kids easter bonnet parade where you can buy your kids decorated easter cakes

paulofessex

Wow l wasn't expecting so many parents to feel the same way as myself in relation to this issue l really did think l was perhaps being tight fisted at times.

As many others l don't mind supporting the school, but there is clearly a limit.

I also have strong feeling about money being raised for hospital wards and sick children, which l will post on the Rant/Rave thread