Voluntary contribution towards school trips

FBaby

emweaver wrote: »

Yes so you know me so you should know that I did not pay for the holiday and yes I saved hard for the spending money BUT we didn't know we would come home to no money thanks to Natwest and also was not even told about the trip as it was announced whilst DD was not at school.

Surely in that case, you could speak with the teacher, explain the issue with natwest and delay in finding out about the trip, but that you will be paying it as soon as the issue with natwest is sorted rather than going on about complaining because the school is trying to put a bit of pressure on you to contribute like most others do.

mishkanorman

FBaby wrote: »

I totally disagree with this and is the exact reason why I get angry with those parents who say that can't contribute towards their kids school trip and risk the whole class missing out. How is buying Next clothes more important that contributing towards a trip? Next clothes even on sale is expensive and certainly not a priority. You can get kids clothes for a few pounds in charity shops and that of better quality than Next. Surely buying babygrows for a child not yet born isn't a priority either.

The big difference is that it is much more rewarding buying new clothes on sale than paying for something you can get other people to pay for instead. I really struggle to believe that any family entitled to tax credits and the rest are not able to budget for school trips. They know they are coming in the year, so it doesn't have to be a case of waiting until getting the notice, but maybe putting £1 a week aside for when it comes.

If you actually read the posts the OP made on the pregnancy thread she had asked for "good quality but not too expensive" and had mentioned Asda's being £5 each and not lasting,

Me and another member were the ones to mention Next, not realising the OPs current situation.

The dragging up of her posts is just horrible, her past ability to spend money or even future ability has nothing to do with the here and now.

Its shameful how such a simple thread made by someone wanting advice on a situation can be twisted into an attack on her entire life !

BlueAngelCV

mishkanorman wrote: »

Its shameful how such a simple thread made by someone wanting advice on a situation can be twisted into an attack on her entire life !

I totally agree and this is becoming far too common on MSE.

tiggerroo1301

Maybe people are fed up of a generation of people who spend, spend, spend on the luxuries in life and then complain that they can't afford the mundane things!

DylanO

mishkanorman wrote: »

Its shameful how such a simple thread made by someone wanting advice on a situation can be twisted into an attack on her entire life !

I can't see an attack on her entire life anywhere. I can see someone moaning that they 'can't' afford to pay for their daughter to go on a school trip (which is probably not educational given the time of year) but they think that she should still be able to go, subsidised by the other parents.

I think bringing up her her posts about shopping for clothes is relevant given the situation that she is asking advice for. It's certainly not an 'attack on her entire life' by any stretch of the imagination.

OP - is this an end of year trip to a theme park or such like?

meritaten

tiggerroo1301 wrote: »

The OP has not only been to DLP this year but also states that she has been 5 times in the last four years. Im sure that this will more than make up for her daughter missing one school trip!

I am a teacher and had to save damn hard to take my own three children to DLP this year and it will probably be a long time before we can afford to go again.

If you couldn't afford to take your child to the cinema would you expect someone else to pay for them??

School trips are not a RIGHT.

They are if they are 'educational' and part of the curriculum. Look it up - there is a link earlier in the thread as you don't seem to know the rules on this.
Jollies? no - schools can expect contributions by the parents - but to exclude a child because their parents cannot pay.......I think that is disgraceful. That is why the school fundraise is it not? not just to swell the coffers?
I have known trips to be cancelled because not enough parents could pay - this was when my own kids were small and the school arranged a jollie for them - during the miners strike in a mining village!!!!!!!!!
and for those who think £5 is a small contribution - it is if you have only one child in school - some have two, three or more, and when you add in the costs of spending money and the 'lunch box' (especially if your child normally has free school meals), it is totally out of the question.
I wonder sometimes if people on here live in the real world? they obviously havent been so strapped for money that two days after payday (or benefit day) there is literally nothing left!

milliebear00001

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

It is NOT illegal IF the trip is not educational. The OP has not said what the trip is nor what it costs (as far as I can see).

We are running a trip to a theme park in a few weeks as a reward - we have asked for a contribution to the costs from the parents of those chosen to go. If the parents do not pay the child does not go as it is not an educational trip. However we are generally lenient and if a parent tells us they cannot afford an optional trip we will sort something out. Same as if Film Club goes to the cinema, parents are asked to pay. At the end of the day if not enough people pay the trip cannot happen.

Thanks for that but I'm a teacher so already know. The OP already knows as well because this very point was made much earlier on in this thread by Nicki.

tiggerroo1301

In response to Meritaten, I know the difference between a SCHOOL TRIP, which is what the OP referred to, and an EDUCATIONAL VISIT which I would have no qualms about a child being subsidised for.

And I have also known trips cancelled because not enough parents were able to (or willing to contribute to in the hope that the school would foot the bill!) which is a crying shame for the students whose parents had budgetted to allow for these things. However, I do appreciate extreme circumstances such as the miner's strike you mentioned.

Also school's fundraise to provide things such as rewards for students and new equipment which is not provided within the funding that they receive, so that ALL students benefit - not just a few.

As for 'lunch boxes', you should be aware that schools provide packed lunches for children who have free school meals.

I certainly live in the real world as I have three children, including a set of twins which means I have double the cost at the same time for school trips etc.

[Deleted User]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned as I've skimmed through due to a rush, but I wanted to make a point that is valid to me.

I have a son in reception who has had one school trip this year at £15. But add onto that two school discos at £3 each, the xmas fayre and summer fayre spending money, money for non uniform days and money for sponsership forms, a special food day, summer term swimming lessons and jubilee festivities it all adds up. Plus contributions of bottles, presents, fill a trug, fill a sweet bag, fill a plate of cakes etc it soon adds up.

Next year I'll have this twice over as DD starts reception.

Last month I went back over all the £1 here, £2 there, plus the extra expenses i've listed above and added a bit extra in case. Then i multiplied them both and then divided by 12 and now I am saving that much per month, so the money is there when the children and school need it.

I imagine people with 3+ children at primary or secondary school will find these costs particularly hard unless planned a year in advance for, if they are on a budget that is.

mishkanorman

DylanO wrote: »

I can't see an attack on her entire life anywhere. I can see someone moaning that they 'can't' afford to pay for their daughter to go on a school trip (which is probably not educational given the time of year) but they think that she should still be able to go, subsidised by the other parents.

I think bringing up her her posts about shopping for clothes is relevant given the situation that she is asking advice for. It's certainly not an 'attack on her entire life' by any stretch of the imagination.

OP - is this an end of year trip to a theme park or such like?

Its shopping for clothes for her baby not a trip to Ascot, in theory might I add so not even something she is doing right now.

Could you not offer advice on the point of the thread - being can the school treat her and her family this way over voluntary contributions - without knowing how she is spending her money elsewhere ? Or should she have posted her entire in-goings and out-goings in the first post as proof ?

the only reason its been dragged up is because people like to judge, not content with just reading what the OP has said and responding as is they like to kick you while you are down


(I have stated 'you' and quoted DylanO but my comments arent all aimed at *you*)