School abusing dinner money system

MidLifeCrisis_3

Our school uses ParentPay an electronic payment system with separate tick boxes for dinner money and class trips. The relevant trips are listed individually with a brief description and the amount to be paid. The dinner money balance can be topped up by a minimum amount as necessary.

I always pay the ‘voluntary contribution’ for school trips, but cannot transfer money already paid into dinner money to pay for a trip, however, where this is unpaid, or in my case where they have made an error and it has been paid, the school have been deducting these amounts from children’s dinner money. I've obviously raised this with the school office, but wondered what the legal situation is where the school are taking money from the child’s dinner money account to pay for these other ‘voluntary contributions’? Some parents are calling it theft, fraud, etc, but are not sure what to do about it and the head is an unapproachable bully.

I understand that if not everyone pays then the trip won’t go ahead; the DofE site states:

“Headteachers or governing bodies may ask parents for a voluntary contribution towards the cost of: any activity that takes place during school hours; school equipment; general school funds. Children of parents who are unable, or unwilling, to contribute may not be discriminated against. However, if there are insufficient voluntary contributions made to cover the cost of the trip, or activity, and there is no alternative method to make up the shortfall, then the school should cancel the activity.”

I would like to write a letter to the school governors about it and feel it would be helpful to quote the relevant legal facts of the matter.

Thanks

MLC

System

when I was a kid if you didn't pay for a school trip you didn't go. Have the rules changed these days and its now just a "voluntary contribution"?

No wonder the country is in debt!

Hintza

MidLifeCrisis wrote: »

I would like to write a letter to the school governors about it and feel it would be helpful to quote the relevant legal facts of the matter.

Thanks

MLC

Why?

I think a friendly letter pointing out your concerns to the governors would be a much better approach TO START.

You can raise the tempo later if required.

CC a copy to all relevant parties head, other concerned parents etc.

MidLifeCrisis_3

I will keep it friendly, but would like to find out if what they are doing is illegal or not and under which act, etc.

paulofessex

Oh l do wish l could find the copy of a letter l sent to our childs school. I sent them details that l obtained from the LEA in relation to if a school trip is part of the National Curriculum there should be no charge at all for parents as funding is provided by the LEA. I am aware that schools have limited funds, however they do try and bend the rules.

In our case l complained due to the school wanting parents to pay £10 (if l recall correctly) for a trip to a local wood which is free entry, and was within walking distance.

OP, l too wouldn't be happy if the school were deducting monies from the dinner money to cover shortfalls etc. Perhaps a group of you parents can approach the school together

POPPYOSCAR

I do not know the legalities of this but I do think this is an outrageous situation.

What have the staff said about it when you complained?

I would say that the money is to be returned to the account , and under no circumstances is it to be deducted again.

I would put this in writing without any quoting of legalities in the first instance.

fluffnutter

What do the school governors think of having an 'unapproachable bully' for a head teacher? Seems a bit worrying to me, or is this just parental school gate chit-chat and opinion?

unholyangel

So basically they are making the voluntary payments compulsory? Are they refunding them after its been brought to their attention?

DCodd

OP might be worth asking Parentpay about whether the School are bound by any T's & C's with ParentPay regarding the use of funds paid by a parent.

https://www.parentpay.com/Contact-Us/

MidLifeCrisis_3

fluffnutter wrote: »

What do the school governors think of having an 'unapproachable bully' for a head teacher? Seems a bit worrying to me, or is this just parental school gate chit-chat and opinion?

Personal experience . She bullied me and has done similar to others. I was treated like a naughty child over something I would never have even done - she listened to 'a source' who had quoted some alleged playground gossip about me. Funny how no-one else had ever heard that gossip tho:mad:. I have suffered depression ever since and can hardly stand to be in the playground anymore. This is why I want to have my legal facts straight before I approach a governor about this potential breach.

MidLifeCrisis_3

unholyangel wrote: »

So basically they are making the voluntary payments compulsory? Are they refunding them after its been brought to their attention?

I hate going into the office now so I sent a polite email yesterday asking why the amount had been deducted twice. I've not heard back yet. I'm not going to fight anyone else's battle regarding their deducted payments just my own.