Voluntary contribution towards school trips

carolan78

meritaten wrote: »

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!

In my daughters school the PTA money is rasied to go towards new equipment something the entire school can benefit from on a daily/weekly basis.

Also the school provide packed lunches for both the children that pay for school meals and free school meals children. If your child has school dinners we always have a check box to say if we would prefer to send our own.

I have been strapped for cash but I am also a realist and realise if not enough parents pay a trip can not go ahead so I personally would rather pay than have my DD go without these treats whether they are educational or not.

tiggerroo1301

Whilst I may seem a little harsh, I would like to clarify that the reasons why schools have asked for 'voluntary' contributions in recent years, rather than the full cost, is so that those students who were in truly disadvantaged circumstances were able to experience the same as their peers.

Unfortunately this has led to the system being abused by people who can, but simply don't want to pay their way, meaning that schools simply do not have the money to subsidise everyone.

It then means that those students who genuinely cannot afford to pay are penalised - which may be the OP's situation. I have personally paid for a student to go on a trip AND provided their lunch from my own kitchen...before people think I am a complete ogre!!

milliebear00001

tiggerroo1301 wrote: »

Whilst I may seem a little harsh, I would like to clarify that the reasons why schools have asked for 'voluntary' contributions in recent years, rather than the full cost, is so that those students who were in truly disadvantaged circumstances were able to experience the same as their peers.

Unfortunately this has led to the system being abused by people who can, but simply don't want to pay their way, meaning that schools simply do not have the money to subsidise everyone.

It then means that those students who genuinely cannot afford to pay are penalised - which may be the OP's situation. I have personally paid for a student to go on a trip AND provided their lunch from my own kitchen...before people think I am a complete ogre!!

No it isn't.

Schools started asking for 'voluntary contributions' because the law changed and they were no longer allowed to demand payment for educational trips in school time - only a voluntary contribution. Most point out that if not enough parents pay, then the trip will need to be cancelled.

carolan78

milliebear00001 wrote: »

No it isn't.

Schools started asking for 'voluntary contributions' because the law changed and they were no longer allowed to demand payment for educational trips in school time - only a voluntary contribution. Most point out that if not enough parents pay, then the trip will need to be cancelled.

Whatever the reason for it is, the fact remains these trips will be cancelled if not enough pay. Depending on the area of the school you could have as much as 80% of the class with family on low income or benefits. It wouldn't be possible for the school to cover that much.

[Deleted User]

I guess what I am trying to say is I am now regarding these school expenses as part of my monthly outlay, I know they are coming up so I can plan for them for both my children. I'll be in a better position this year as I have an idea of what they are going to be, rather than the wait for the letter and pay up camp that i was in.

I hope that helps someone, but i do appreciate not everyone will be able to afford these extra costs even if they try to budget for them.

I would imagine if this is the case then letting the school know at the earliest opportunity would be the way forward. If they know the rough percentage of parents who would struggle to pay, they can then plan their trips and requests appropriately for that class.

tiggerroo1301

And why did the law change??

gingin_2

I am the one who dragged up the past spending history of the OP ( past meaning earlier on today). I stand by it being relevant.

It hit a nerve because like others, my children's school's hardship fund comes directly from the PTA and the only spare funds the very underfunded school my children attend(ed) comes from the PTA.

I work bl**dy hard on my children's PTA - I do not say no, because so few actually bother. I do it because it is my way of saying thank you to the school for working hard towards my childrens' education and because I like to think of all of the children benefitting from it. I do not begrudge the hardship fund being spent on those who need it but I would be pee'd off if I found a parent of a child refusing to pay up for a trip and yet planning what to spend on a new baby in the next breath.

I still agree it was wrong of the school to mention this in front of the daughter but wonder what conclusions they must have got to to make this decision.

kingfisherblue

Those on free school meals do get a packed lunch when there is a school trip - but in my son's case, it is never suitable. I realise that this isn't the case for the vast majority, but my son is disabled and has severe feeding difficulties due to congenital abnormalities of the digestive system. i always supply a suitable packed lunch because the free one for trips consists of two sandwiches (usually ham, which he struggles with), a bag of crisps (he cannnot manage ordinary crisps, but can manage Skips, as they are soft and they melt in his mouth), an apple (an impossibility for him to chew and swallow) and a chocolate biscuit (usually ok), and a drink. I send in bread and butter or bread and tomato sauce, Skips, ham chopped into tiny pieces, a biscuit, and two or three drinks - he needs extra drinks to help him swallow and wash food down.

And this is a special school, where they are aware of his feeding difficulties!

Mado

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

I agree.

It is disgraceful that this happens.

My objection is the wording 'voluntary', just say you do not pay you do not go. Do not embarrass people by demanding payment.

The problem is that the payments are voluntary as the school cannot in any way force parents to pay BUT the school simply can't have any trips or activity unless there are sufficient contributions.
I was wondering if the school talked to the parent because the permission slip is often on the payment form; so if you haven't returned it, the school can't take the child out.

Finances are very hard for schools too. We have a very soft approach to contributions to the school fund and as a result, we have a very low level of contributions and it makes it difficult for the school to provide the children with opportunities outside the classroom.

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Those on free school meals do get a packed lunch when there is a school trip - but in my son's case, it is never suitable. I realise that this isn't the case for the vast majority, but my son is disabled and has severe feeding difficulties due to congenital abnormalities of the digestive system. i always supply a suitable packed lunch because the free one for trips consists of two sandwiches (usually ham, which he struggles with), a bag of crisps (he cannnot manage ordinary crisps, but can manage Skips, as they are soft and they melt in his mouth), an apple (an impossibility for him to chew and swallow) and a chocolate biscuit (usually ok), and a drink. I send in bread and butter or bread and tomato sauce, Skips, ham chopped into tiny pieces, a biscuit, and two or three drinks - he needs extra drinks to help him swallow and wash food down.

And this is a special school, where they are aware of his feeding difficulties!

I am not sure how much involvement the school has with supplying packed lunch for free school meals children, especially if these are only required occasionnaly. If the school has to use a LEA provision, it probably is out of their control.

DylanO

mishkanorman wrote: »

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*)

I have asked a question that is quite crucial to potential advice given.