Schools charging & people on benefits!

Idiophreak

It's interesting the different experiences people have of the education system in this country. My gf teaches at a school in an "area of social deprivation" or whatever they're called these days - she took the kids on an outward bound trip a couple of months back. There were only a couple of children that didn't make it - those were the ones whose parents were working and couldn't afford the fee. All the other children had the trip paid for and the parents viewed it as a week of peace with free babysitters, so off they all went.

It's shocking that there's still so much variation in policy around the country...

nottslass_2

SingleSue wrote: »

Kingfisher - The only parking allowance we get at the hospital is for if you have a child as an inpatient, otherwise we have to pay the same parking as everyone else....wish we could have the same as you!

Our local council also doesn't do the uniform grant, they stopped it a fair few years ago now, the school only did the £15 one as they changed the uniform for this year.

School trips, there have been one or two voluntary payment trips but everything else is a set contribution..this is where the guilt sets in, especially the Activity week where each child HAS to take part and all of the choices cost money, from a relatively small amount (£20) right up to over £400! Youngest got the £20 one but middle one got the £40 one.

So true about the school supplier though, you could buy through the school or from the one designated shop...but both at exactly the same (over inflated) price. If the child is not wearing the official uniform (in other words, not cheapies purchased from Asda etc), they are not allowed in school until they are wearing the correct uniform.

Thank goodness eldest goes into 6th Form in September where uniform is not a requirement!

Sue, if you are on certain benefits you are entitled to claim the costs back for Hospital appointments ( parking,petrol or public transport) You need to Take your proof of benefit to the hospitals general office and they'll refund you. Its not a "hospital thing" but an entitlement for all those who qualify just like free prescriptions etc.

elegant_elephant

shellsuit wrote: »

Then it's the £300 for this trip and £400 for that trip.

Then it non clothes day so a couple of quid for that. (No mention of where the money is going, that's what annoys me about it)
QUOTE]


Could you contact the Governing Body for this?

My son's school produces details of all non-LEA income received by the school and all the things that are bought with that income which the Governor's have copies of. The money in this set of accounts is usually spent on educational resources and printer ink as the pitiful amount of money received from the council does not cover these basic expenses.

Anyhow, it should all be accounted for as the LEA requires audited copies of school bank accounts.

onlyroz

Are people seriously suggesting that schools shouldn't offer subsidised trips? Most of these trips offer, for excellent value for money, the sort of experiences that some kids might never again get the opportunity to have. If you don't want your kids to go on these trips then keep them at home. However, I'd much rather my kids had these opportunities than not.

SingleSue

nottslass wrote: »

Sue, if you are on certain benefits you are entitled to claim the costs back for Hospital appointments ( parking,petrol or public transport) You need to Take your proof of benefit to the hospitals general office and they'll refund you. Its not a "hospital thing" but an entitlement for all those who qualify just like free prescriptions etc.

Blimey! I knew about the fuel payback but not the parking bit too!

Thanks for that!

SingleSue

bestpud wrote: »

Now this I don't agree with!

They did the same at my older childrens' school but around half of the activities were free.

Is that £20 for the week, or per activity?

For 4 days which I think is extremely good value for what they are doing....it's just a headache when the letter comes in especially with two of the beggers at the same school :rotfl:

woody01

Schools should be places of nurturing equality and not making some students feel left out or different because they come from low income families.

I completely agree.
I think the local authority should pay for under-priviledged children
IF
the low income/benefit receiving parents can prove they don't waste their cash on fags and booze!

kingfisherblue

retro_bluebell wrote: »

kingfisherblue wrote: »

S

Schools are not supposed to insist on uniform that is available from only one supplier, but ConsumerDirect have told me that they often get round this by selling uniform from school (at the same inflated price), thereby giving the option of two suppliers. /QUOTE]


Sorry to highjack, does this mean you have been in contact with Consumer direct? im only asking as my sons school doesnt offer a second choice of buying from the school, they send out order forms for buying directly from the suppliers, if you have any info on this would you mind pming me with it as its something Im thinking about challenging.

I contacted them two or three years ago. My son was wearing plain white polo shirts (as many other children were), but had been told off by the headteacher for this and told not to wear them again as it was not uniform. At the time, I volunteered in the school and I am not aware of any other child being told this. Numerous children wore polo shirts without the school emblem for weeks after my child was told off. (The head and I don't get on, but that's another story - it did make me wonder if my son was singled out, though, and when I approached her, she pointed out that the prospectus does actually state polo shirt with school emblem).

Anyway, I digress. I rang Consumer Direct, who told me that
A) Schools should always give at least two suppliers of uniform (the school itself can be one), so that there is not a monopoly. This is for items that have been made for the school (such as embroidered sweatshirts). Generic items should be acceptable from anywhere, if in the correct style and colour. So if girls have to wear bottle green box pleated skirts, available in shop A, but you manage to find exactly the same style and colour in shop B, the school should not object. On the other hand, it is unlikely in my example that you would find more than one skirt of the type in my town!
ConsumerDirect also said that if the prospectus does not state that the polo shirts etc has to have the emblem, the school cannot insist on it.

Hope this helps.

Mankysteve

How about looking at thing in another way with trips and stuff that if family may be able to afford to send a child/children on activities that a full family wouldn't afford to do.

Especially in poorer area it allows a children who would not otherwise get the opportunity to try things that may not otherwise get at a lower cost than it cost an entire family to do similar activities. Trips are usally subsidised anyway.

School uniforms make a huge difference. I went to school that turned around from being a failing to school to one of the best in the country(headmistress got made a dame for the work she did) in a matter of three years the biggest difference made was the school uniform. Although the stuff with marking should be sold though the school at cost but that doesn't happen thanks good old conservative thinking.

shellsuit

bestpud wrote: »

Now this I don't agree with!

They did the same at my older childrens' school but around half of the activities were free.

Is that £20 for the week, or per activity?

That's the same as what I mentioned in my post, but it's called 'project week' with projects for each class, at different costs, from a tenner, to £300! How they think this is fair, I don't know.

elegant_elephant wrote: »

shellsuit wrote: »

Then it's the £300 for this trip and £400 for that trip.

Then it non clothes day so a couple of quid for that. (No mention of where the money is going, that's what annoys me about it)
QUOTE]


Could you contact the Governing Body for this?

My son's school produces details of all non-LEA income received by the school and all the things that are bought with that income which the Governor's have copies of. The money in this set of accounts is usually spent on educational resources and printer ink as the pitiful amount of money received from the council does not cover these basic expenses.

Anyhow, it should all be accounted for as the LEA requires audited copies of school bank accounts.

I could do I suppose, I've just mumbled and moaned and handed the money over to the kids, because without the cash, they can't go into school in their normal clothes, and then they're the odd ones out :cool:

kingfisherblue wrote: »

retro_bluebell wrote: »

I contacted them two or three years ago. My son was wearing plain white polo shirts (as many other children were), but had been told off by the headteacher for this and told not to wear them again as it was not uniform. At the time, I volunteered in the school and I am not aware of any other child being told this. Numerous children wore polo shirts without the school emblem for weeks after my child was told off. (The head and I don't get on, but that's another story - it did make me wonder if my son was singled out, though, and when I approached her, she pointed out that the prospectus does actually state polo shirt with school emblem).

Anyway, I digress. I rang Consumer Direct, who told me that
A) Schools should always give at least two suppliers of uniform (the school itself can be one), so that there is not a monopoly. This is for items that have been made for the school (such as embroidered sweatshirts). Generic items should be acceptable from anywhere, if in the correct style and colour. So if girls have to wear bottle green box pleated skirts, available in shop A, but you manage to find exactly the same style and colour in shop B, the school should not object. On the other hand, it is unlikely in my example that you would find more than one skirt of the type in my town!
ConsumerDirect also said that if the prospectus does not state that the polo shirts etc has to have the emblem, the school cannot insist on it.

Hope this helps.

There is only 1 place where we can get my kid's their school uniforms.

I wouldn't know where else to buy their blazer, or daughters skirt from, as they are a bluey colour and the skirt is bedford check.

Then there are the bags and scarfs and PE kits that have to be bought in the same shop because they HAVE to have logos and names on everything and only that shop does it.

Nice to have your kids walking to and from school with their name on show for all to see *insert rolls eyes smilie x 100*

You'd think it was a private school, but it's not!

My youngest is 1, and there is NO way that he will be going to the same school.









Apologies, don't know why the quoting has c0cked up on this post.