Strange school letter

ukjoel

Just had a letter from the school encouraging all parents to register their kids for free school meals.

Fair enough however they then go on to say that you should register them EVEN if they dont want free school meals.

Apparently they then get another £488 for every kid on the register.

As a taxpayer and one who has been told that we are not getting a pay rise this year (so effectively getting a cut of 5%) I find this madness.

Its a real struggle to make ends meet and to know that I am now going to be paying more tax as a result of this does my head in.

Has anyone else had one of these or is it just my kids school.

Plans_all_plans

What they mean is that those people who are ENTITLED to free school meals should register for them, even if they intend to send the child in with a packed lunch. Not for everyone at school to sign up to free school meals. Do a google search on free school meals and see the eligibility criteria, you have to be on certain benefits to qualify.

skylight

And you are not paying more tax, are you? Your pay packet will not show a penny difference because the school may have more children registered for free school meals.

adouglasmhor

skylight wrote: »

And you are not paying more tax, are you? Your pay packet will not show a penny difference because the school may have more children registered for free school meals.

If more schools do this tax will have to go up because the money has to come from somewhere. It's not magic money from the head teachers hat or something.

ukjoel

I know what they mean - I just dont think its right that they are encouraging people to sign up for this so they get paid more money. I am not knocking free school meals for those who are entitled to it but I think its a bit strange the school get a payment of £488 a year. Surely each kid costs the same to teach.

This sounds like a poor person payment to the school. If you take kids from poor families we will give you more money. If they said we will give you more money for taking kids from certain faiths, or ethnic groups then people would go mad.

Why is this any different?
And more importantly why are taxpayers funding it (not free school meals).

balletshoes

the school does get more money depending on how many children on its roll are entitled to free school meals. The children don't have to take the free school meals, they can still take a packed lunch if thats what they want to do.

My daughter's school has sent out letters about this in the last 2 school years, so its not a new thing.

POPPYOSCAR

ukjoel wrote: »

Just had a letter from the school encouraging all parents to register their kids for free school meals.

Fair enough however they then go on to say that you should register them EVEN if they dont want free school meals.

Apparently they then get another £488 for every kid on the register.

As a taxpayer and one who has been told that we are not getting a pay rise this year (so effectively getting a cut of 5%) I find this madness.

Its a real struggle to make ends meet and to know that I am now going to be paying more tax as a result of this does my head in.

Has anyone else had one of these or is it just my kids school.

I understand what you are saying, but for me personally I think education is one of the areas(along with the NHS) that I do want my tax spent on.

As long as this goes towards improving the education for the children I would have no problem with this.

Plans_all_plans

ukjoel wrote: »

.

This sounds like a poor person payment to the school. If you take kids from poor families we will give you more money. If they said we will give you more money for taking kids from certain faiths, or ethnic groups then people would go mad.

They don't know people's financial situation before the child goes to the school though do they?

At the end of the day, the money from FSM (as far as I know) doesn't go on ONLY that child, but on whole school resources.

I also thought (though am willing to be corrected) that the proportion of children registered for FSM has an impact on the school's standing in league tables.

balletshoes

ukjoel wrote: »

I know what they mean - I just dont think its right that they are encouraging people to sign up for this so they get paid more money.
I am not knocking free school meals for those who are entitled to it but I think its a bit strange the school get a payment of £488 a year. Surely each kid costs the same to teach.

This sounds like a poor person payment to the school. If you take kids from poor families we will give you more money. If they said we will give you more money for taking kids from certain faiths, or ethnic groups then people would go mad.

Why is this any different?
And more importantly why are taxpayers funding it (not free school meals).

when you look at how much school budgets have been cut over the years, it makes perfect sense to me that a school management team would look at what sources of income are available to them, and this being a legitimate one, would encourage all parents/guardians of children at their school to sign up if eligible. It benefits the whole school.

POPPYOSCAR

Plans_all_plans wrote: »

They don't know people's financial situation before the child goes to the school though do they?

At the end of the day, the money from FSM (as far as I know) doesn't go on ONLY that child, but on whole school resources.

I also thought (though am willing to be corrected) that the proportion of children registered for FSM has an impact on the school's standing in league tables.

In what way?

ukjoel

adouglasmhor wrote: »

If more schools do this tax will have to go up because the money has to come from somewhere. It's not magic money from the head teachers hat or something.

Exactly my point. Someone the other day was on the radio justifying the cost of something by saying each taxpayer would only pay the cost of a stamp a year to pay for it.

Its all very well saying that times are tough and we need to make sacrifices but it seems to me that the government are saying one thing and doing another.