school 'demanding' voluntary contribution, income sub £16,000

poppy-glos

Any advice greatfully received.

I'm on child tax credit and due to low income have a NHS tax credit exemption certificate.

I have been struggling financially due to losing maintainence from my ex.

On Friday dd was sent home with a letter asking for £34 for her to do swimming lessons with school, the swimming starts next tuesday.

I have asked the school for their charging policy, it is as follows; (next post)

poppy-glos

The school wishes to provide for all pupils the best possible educational opportunities available within the funds allocated by the Education Authority. The law states very clearly that education during normal school hours is to be free of any compulsory charge to parents and the school warmly endorses that principle and is committed to uphold the legal requirements.

It is recognised, however, that many educationally valuable activities have been and will continue to be dependent on financial contributions in whole or in part from parents. Without that financial support, the school would find it quite impossible to maintain the quality and breadth of the educational programme provided for pupils. The school’s concern is to keep financial contributions to a reasonable minimum and to ensure as far as possible that all children are able to take part, irrespective of their financial circumstances.

The school has decided that until further notice its policy will be as follows


1. Day Visits
For visits occurring during school time the school may invite a voluntary contribution from parents to meet costs.
For visits where the majority of the visit is outside school time parents will be charged for all allowable costs.*

2. Residential visits during school time
The school will invite voluntary contributions from parents to meet costs other than children’s board and lodgings. Parents will be charged for the full cost of children’s board and lodgings unless they are in receipt of the listed benefits.**

3. Any visit required because of recognised public examinations, the National Curriculum or the law on Religious Education
As for 2.

4. Instrumental Music on an individual basis
There is a termly charge which contributes to the cost of tuition and a charge is made for the hire of the musical instruments used in individual (or small group) tuition. Parents can apply for a bursary if they are on Income Based Jobseekers Allowance or Child Tax Credit.

5. Classroom Materials
For certain practical activities (Technology, Cookery, etc.) parents may be invited to provide materials or ingredients on a voluntary basis, or make a voluntary contribution to help cover costs. In some cases, where parents would like to possess the finished product, the school reserves the right to charge the cost or require the supply of the necessary materials.

*Allowable costs:
(a) The pupil’s travel and subsistence costs;
(b) Materials, books, instruments and other equipment;
(c) Non-teaching staff;
(d) Costs of teaching staff where separately engaged under a contract for services for the visit or activity;
(e) Entrance fees to museums, castles, theatres, etc; and
(f) Insurance costs.

** Parents who can prove they are in receipt of the following benefits will be exempt from paying the cost of board and lodging:
a) Income support (IS);
b) Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA);
c) Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;
d) Child Tax Credit, providing that Working Tax Credit is not also received and the family’s income (as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) does not exceed £15 575 (Financial Year 2008/2009);
e) The guarantee element of State Pension Credit; and
f) An income related employment and support allowance that was introduced on 27 October 2008.

In all cases charges may be waived or reduced for children whose parents apply to the Headteacher.

poppy-glos

So in conversation with the teacher yesterday - i was told if i do not pay my child does not do the activity. In the same conversation she said that to swim 25 m by the end of ks2 is a govt target therefore they have to put on the swimming lessons in school time.
If my child does not swim, she will be taken along on the bus (paid for by other parents contributions) and sit on the side and watch the activity.

I guess i need some advice and views from people.
Currently i have signed the consent to swim, but have stuck a line through the 'i enclose my voluntary contribution' line.

Do people on here feel i need to apply to the head for a waive of the 'voluntary contribution'? somehow it does not seem correct if it's voluntary.

I look forward to hearing from you all.

poppy x

JBD

I used to pay per lesson for my children's swimming lessons. It worked out about £3.40/lesson, an affordable amount, even although I was on very little money. Why don't you ask the teacher if you can do the same?

Bufger

So the swimming activity is within school time?

"The law states very clearly that education during normal school hours is to be free of any compulsory charge to parents and the school warmly endorses that principle and is committed to uphold the legal requirements."

So no compulsory charge which is why they invite a voluntary contribution. I would write a letter to the head asking them to explain why your child can be excluded from an activity during school time based on lack of payment as UK law clearly states (as quoted from your reply):

The law states very clearly that education during normal school hours is to be free of any compulsory charge to parents and the school warmly endorses that principle and is committed to uphold the legal requirements.

You would be suprised at how many head teachers have no idea how they stand on a legal basis in most situations. My OH is a primary school teacher and her boss (the head) if ALWAYS getting into arguements with the uninion because he doesnt have an ounce of common sense when it comes to dismissals/maternity leave/sick cover/temp contracts etc etc etc. Wastes of space

xmaslolly76

£3.40 a lesson ouch my son only has to pay 50p and normally if you let the school know you are struggling they will waiver the charges.

LondonDiva

xmaslolly76 wrote: »

£3.40 a lesson ouch my son only has to pay 50p

Is this including transport costs and insurance?

chocdonuty

Most of the cost of swimming lessons is for the transport. Dd's class went for 2 terms this year and luckily as they walk to swimming it was free
I also take her to private swimming lessons run by the council, works out at £2.30 a lesson (used to be half that but the council put it up last year, now thats a price hike:eek:)

xmaslolly76

Thats everything 50p every week. I know the local councils are running alot of initiatives around swimming ie: free lessons and all children under 16 get in the pool for free so that could be why it is so reasonable :-)

kezlou

I understand entirely poppyglos, its hard keeping up paying for everything.

In my children's school, swimming is free for ALL children, as it is part of the child's education as stated by the government. So the headteacher is NOT allowed to exclude your child from this activity asit it is part of the ESSENTIAL criteria. The headteacher at my children's stated this to the council when they wanted to start charging for swimming lessons during school hours. She howled like a banshee and won her case as she was in the right.

Other things like days out, residentials, music lessons, snacks etc are all paid for by the parents.
My eldest wants to go to seahouses £60 for 5 days inc food, travel, accommodation. Whislt those on a low income (i.e JSA, IS) get it for £30, because were on working tax credit we do not qualify even though our income is less than £10000 annually.
Its hard but i always find a way to pay.

xmaslolly76

d) Child Tax Credit, providing that Working Tax Credit is not also received and the family’s income (as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) does not exceed £15 575 (Financial Year 2008/2009);


Ive never understood the above rule surely if you have less than the figure quoted you get some kind of working tax credits to top it up thus making it impossible to qualify if you are getting tax credits of any kind and as in the case of kezlou above you end up missing out even though you dont have alot of income coming in.