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

DaisyFlower

The coach and insurance will be the major part of the cost rather than the actual cost of the swimming lesson itself.

Rather than refuse to pay, why not ask the school if you can pay in instalments if you are struggling to pay it in one go.

I always though CB and CTC were designed to help with the costs of raising a child, I can never understand why parents dont assist with the extra costs re school - they are on an extremely limited budget per child and its only the children that suffer if the parents refuse to pay. In small schools there is simply not the funding to pay for those that dont pay so trips etc simply get cancelled.

Becles

xmaslolly76 wrote: »

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.

When I first became a single parent, my total income from wages, tax credits and child benefit was aoround £10K.

It did seem unfair that theoretically a family who didn't work and only claimed benefits could have £15K coming in and get further help with things.

I do think this rule should be changed to a income limit regardless of where the income comes from as it penalises people for working.

OP, I would speak to the school. Ours has a discretionary fund and sometimes I didn't have to pay, other times I just paid what I could or they let me pay in installments.

blabberwort

DaisyFlower wrote: »

The coach and insurance will be the major part of the cost rather than the actual cost of the swimming lesson itself.

Rather than refuse to pay, why not ask the school if you can pay in instalments if you are struggling to pay it in one go.

I always though CB and CTC were designed to help with the costs of raising a child, I can never understand why parents dont assist with the extra costs re school - they are on an extremely limited budget per child and its only the children that suffer if the parents refuse to pay. In small schools there is simply not the funding to pay for those that dont pay so trips etc simply get cancelled.

In an ideal world we would all beable to pay towards are childrens education costs but unfortunately this isnt the ideal world. Voluntary contribution is exactly that - voluntary. I have always managed to pay towards costs when asked but I begrudge the letters we used to get in my sons old school. They were taramount to guilt trips, people with low incomes do not need to feel worse than they already do because of not being able to afford everything they would like for their children.

At my sons new school they go to the farm part of the year weekly, they ask for a voluntary contribution of £1 towards the £5 cost. Again it is voluntary, my son has forgotten to give his money at times and we've found it in his pocket still when he comes home, the school obviously dont realise he has it but they have never stopped him going to the farm.

If I was the OP I would ask them exactly whats voluntary about it. Sounds to me more a case of dont pay dont get to participate, and for something as basic in schools as swimming lessons this is wrong. It is not a day trip or an extra activity that would be different from the norm.

mrcow

I'd don't get it.

Are you saying that you want your child to still be able to go swimming, but you don't want to pay for it?

If so, how exactly do you want this funded? Are you saying that you want other parents to club together to pay for your child?

Do you not think that we all have budgets to work to? £3 per week is not a massive amount to find. Budget. And offer to pay weekly - then the problem is solved.

floss2

mrcow wrote: »

I'd don't get it.

Are you saying that you want your child to still be able to go swimming, but you don't want to pay for it?

If so, how exactly do you want this funded? Are you saying that you want other parents to club together to pay for your child?

Do you not think that we all have budgets to work to? £3 per week is not a massive amount to find. Budget. And offer to pay weekly - then the problem is solved.

I think that the OP is in a situation where £3 a week - especially in a lump sum - will make a hole in her budget. I have been in such a situation, whilst working fulltime and with 2 teenagers along with rent & bills to pay.

OP, I suggest you speak to the headteacher, and then advise your child's teacher that you have done so.

shellsuit

Now this bugs me because it's not a voluntary conribution they are asking for, as if so, there should be no problem for your child if you don't pay.

mrcow's suggestion is a good one, is there anyway you can afford to pay for the lessons weekly?

I thought there were funds within a school though for parents who have difficulty in paying?

Maybe enquire about this and offer to pay what you can?

TubbyFunster_2

kezlou wrote: »

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.

Thats quite a bargin but what they going to do in seahouses for 5 days! There are only so many fish and chips shops you want to look at. On our school trip to seahouses the man in the paper shop refused to sell me cigs, quite right too, but it had never happened before and I remember being quite put out

Spendless

My area most schools have their kids swimming thru-out yr5. My son's school is unusual that it starts after Easter in yr4 and continues till break-up of Easter in yr 5. Either way ALL kids have one academic year swimming lessons via school and it is FREE including the coach costs.

My only thought is, is your child's school having swimming lessons that are over and above what the rest of your area does? If they are, I can see that they will apply a charge. If they are just in line with the minimum requirement for children needing to learn to swim then I would certainly query the cost. Are you aware of what other schools do re swimming lessons and do they charge?

C_Mababejive

Ask if you can pay on a weekly/monthly basis. I cant believe that household budget cannot be restructured to accommodate this sum. Its either that or suffer the pain of being the odd kid out..the one on school meals,the one who doesnt go on the school trips etc. Been there,done that and in times of real poverty..not now.

mrcow

floss2 wrote: »

I think that the OP is in a situation where £3 a week - especially in a lump sum - will make a hole in her budget. I have been in such a situation, whilst working fulltime and with 2 teenagers along with rent & bills to pay.

OP, I suggest you speak to the headteacher, and then advise your child's teacher that you have done so.

I've got three children with a mortgage and bills to pay. We all have to budget.

I bet I can chop £3 per week off the OP's budget. If the OP really wants their daughter to go swimming but is worried about the cost, then post up your SOA - we'll find the £3 between us. Don't worry.