DS is in Yr 3 in NI (equivalent of Yr 2 in England I think? - anyhow, he's 6 in the 6-7 academic year!). He attends a bog standard (though good) primary school in a fairly mixed area in terms of the parental income/socio economic status. However I am getting increasingly frustrated by the extras we are asked to pay for. This month they are studying a "bear" theme and have invited a company to come in and make teddy bears with the kids- at a cost of £11.25. Kids get to design their own bears t-shirt etc. I am not impressed. Apparently this was instead of a class outing in the summer term, and was very successful last year. However, I'd prefer an outing or something a little more educational and different, and would have been happier footing a bill for something like a farm trip etc. I do not want another teddy bear. But if I opt out my son risks feeling very upset while his mates make theirs. This is the last in a very expensive few weeks of school-related expenses and I simply can't justify the money (financially very stretched too).
What would you do? Raise the issue with the teach/headmistress, just bite the bullet and pay or just opt out and teach DS one of "life's hard lessons"?
Thanks for bearing with my rant!!
Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.
Primary education
Additional "educational" class activities & trips ££££
JumpingJellyfish · 04/10/2011 23:16
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn
Haha glad you got the "bear"ing comment cat64 
Yes I think I will raise it with the teacher. But could end up paying as the thought of seeing DS's wee face if he doesn't get to do it. Argh they've got me with the guilt 
Are these sorts of expenses for additional activities the norm for many primary schools? I can just about concede to the "voluntary annual contribution", and we attend school events which raise money, and I can personally justify one educational activity a term so long as cost is a tenner or less. But this one I really struggle with. Will be broke when all 3 DCs are at school!
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.