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

Spendless

mrcow wrote: »

But since when have coach/minibus rides been part of the curriculum? The school aren't charging for the teachers' time or for organising it. They are asking for the extra costs to be covered. If they can't be covered, then no one can go.

In your argument, the school would be being penalised for not having a pool within walking distance.

In your argument (say there are 90 children per year group), the school would have to pay over £3000 out of their budgets just so 1/7 of the school could go swimming for 8 hours in order to tick a box on their offerings.

How can that be logical?

It's all very well for one parent to dig their heels in, but if everyone does it, who is losing out?

I don't pay in my area mrcow for the coach to swimming lessons. We don't live walking distance to a pool. Very few schools do as we are in a large town . AFAIK no one in this LA does. I would accept your argument if it was purely about transport there, but it isn't. It's about the swimming lessons themselves. Unless I've mis-read gingins post that picked up on the OP's area refers to 80% of councils funding swimming lessons.

mrcow

code-a-holic wrote: »

I paid for my son to have private lessons until he was 7 and would go with school. I paid over £200 on lessons and he couldnt swim. 2 years with school - he still cant swim. Poor boy!

We're not all designed to be fish If it's any consolation, I couldn't get the confidence together to swim until I was about 12/13 and I swim ust fine now. Some people just aren't ready enough early on.

[Deleted User]

I was given a letter by my son asking for £3.30 for fares to the Birmingham Bull Ring for Business Studies, a trip that is happening today. Problem is, I have had my money cut, had bought food for the week and nothing was left. Plus its not just £3.30 for fares, the letter directed us to provide money for food.., not sandwiches for a packed lunch.., so that was an extra £5.., and I know full well if I gave him sandwiches, it would make him 'different' so cause yet more teasing at school.

Now I was fortunate.., my benefits mess was sorted out thank gawd, so was able to provide the money but if it hadn't been, the trip would not have been possible.., even tho the school were only asking for £3.30.., I didn't have it at such short notice (3 working days).

From her post, the OP is concerned about not only the amount of voluntary contributions she is being asked to make, but particularly about the little amount of notice a person of limited means is being given by the school. I find the same. Sometimes u are given a week's notice.., but usually its less. A month would make it far easier to budget for anything costing more than £10.

jackieglasgow

That is a really good point Deannatrois.

poppy-glos

code-a-holic wrote: »

A upcoming event has annoyed me. Children must raise at least £10 for a sponsered walk or they can not take part in the entertainment afterwards. grrr

i guess this is my thing at the mo. Is the sponsored walk in school time too, my daughters was when the number of sponsors she had gained were questioned....

gingin_2

deannatrois wrote: »

Sometimes u are given a week's notice.., but usually its less. A month would make it far easier to budget for anything costing more than £10.

I'm sorry but I don't understand how this can't be managed. If you are aware that school are sloppy with communication then why can't you forward plan and have an emergency contingency fund for school trips already stashed away? A few coins here and there saved each week would mean that you would have had enough to pay for it

tiamai_d

DS1 had 10 lessons (well, 9 and a party)at the beginning of the year, free, because it is part of the curriculum.

They also have a point that trips are never any more than £8 per child, and to be fair on the school, most trips are free or £3 for transport. The PTA pay for most of the school trips from fund-raising throughout the year.

tiamai_d

emsywoo123 wrote: »

Shell, Dizzi is having some difficulties at the minute.

Oh right, where do we get these 'licences to rant like a demented banshee's' from? I'd rather like one too.

bylromarha

poppy-glos wrote: »

I am also considering writing to the school regarding the wording of their charge/contribution letters, as the principle of free national curriculum in school time seems not to be the case here, where voluntary contributions are expected. I'll need to mull over how and when i do this as conflict does cause me stress, but then i get to the point i'm so cross at their practice i can't help myself!

It may be better to find out who your school parent governors are and have a chat with them. Leave the problem with someone who can do something about it rather than feel you're fighting a one man cause. Swimming has to be done during Key Stage 2 and the governors job is to make sure they are legally delivering all the national curriculum. Ask for payment by all means, but excluding children who don't pay means, in simple terms, they are breaking the law.

gingin_2

Spendless wrote: »

I don't think it's a case of not being honest, maybe more of a case of not really understanding why they are cross. That only became clearer when people 'picked up' on this aspect.
No, I don't think the OP should pay, for a compulsory part of the cirriculum, especially since 80% of children don't who live in other area of the country (gingins post) and part of the county the OP is in don't.
I'm not even sure it's 'the school' the OP should be getting cross at. I think it's her LA.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_177032

This is the article I read. Slightly out of date because it was produced under Liebour's rule. It would be nice if free swimming could be rolled out throughout the country but given that the majority of budget cuts are going to be on public spending, I can't see it being top of the Tory-Dem list.

Edited to add, apologies, I do seem to have read it wrongly, it was for over 60's rather than youngsters but it confirms that 200 local authorities provide free swimming for under 16's.