Can school provide clubs/extra help Just for certain children ?

jopsey

My DS school has sent a letter home basically saying they are getting funding from the pupil premium and those children who get free school meals will be getting extra activities and after school clubs because they are eligible ,
Can school does this and only give places to free school meals children and not include non school meals children

Nicki

Yes, the pupil premium is given to support children on free school meals and schools have to account each year for how they have spent it to raise achievement for this group of children. So there is nothing illegal or improper in what they have done.

That being said, most schools don't do it the way your child's school has, and instead make a provision for all the children who want it, with the FSM children's places being paid for by the PP and the other places coming out of general budget.

peachyprice

Yes, they get extra finding for pupils on school meals, the money is meant to be spent on them working on the theory that if they are from low income families they are unlikely to have the same access to educational facilities at home than children whose parents work.

securityguy

Nicki wrote: »

That being said, most schools don't do it the way your child's school has, and instead make a provision for all the children who want it, with the FSM children's places being paid for by the PP and the other places coming out of general budget.

That's not possible for some schools, because there simply isn't the money in the general budget to do that. I think that an audit might also ask awkward questions about PP being used to subsidise whole school activities (which is the effect of what you describe).

thegirlintheattic

Yes. It works the otherway around as well, schools can run things like ski trips that FSM students can't afford.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Yes. And the children who don't qualify for free school meals will benefit as the school as a whole gets additional funding which will be used in other areas, too.

clearingout

jopsey wrote: »

My DS school has sent a letter home basically saying they are getting funding from the pupil premium and those children who get free school meals will be getting extra activities and after school clubs because they are eligible ,
Can school does this and only give places to free school meals children and not include children from working families ?

whilst unusual, it is possible to be a 'working family' and receive free school meals. Very low income families who don't qualify for Working Tax Credit still qualify for free school meals. Children who come from a single parent family with their parent with care in full time education would also qualify, for example.

Don't stereotype or make assumptions about the children and their families who receive free school meals. Life is hard enough.

SuzieSue

clearingout wrote: »

Don't stereotype or make assumptions about the children and their families who receive free school meals. Life is hard enough.

I don't know if things have changed but 40 years ago I was on free school meals and my father worked full time and had a mortgage.

jopsey

Sorry if it came across as I was making assumptions ,I am not ,I am a single Mum myself and know how hard things are .

Wrong choice of word's maybe I do apologise didn't mean to cause offence.

What I was trying to say was can they exclude children who don't attract the PP from an after school club and only let PP attend ?

WestonDave

Seems a slightly dangerous practice - many schools use systems to prevent FSM kids being identified and thereby stigmatised. Herding them all into an after school "poor kids club" isn't likely to help social integration - whether or not its legal!

Savvy_Sue

Of course, it's also part of the drive to ensure all those entitled to FSM make themselves known to the school - even if they prefer not to receive FSM! I know when the boys were at school we were regularly urged to let them know if we were entitled, even if we didn't want them.