PTA Christmas party in school hours, only if you pay.

We had a PTA event yesterday in school time (buying a present for a family member). It was £1 for a present. The PTA covered any who didn't pay (average of 2-3 per class). I think they should do the same here or do it after school.

Our kids school does end of year fun trips that range from hundreds (a couple of nights at Disney land paris) to free (a sports day type thing in the school). There is a about 8 different things to choose from so I suppose this is kind of like that... picking from 2 different treats.

Not that I'm saying its right or I agree with it but I think it might be legal given you have a choice of 2 activities.

I think someone has dropped a ball here. Any head teacher or staff member/governor should realise that the school has a responsibility to be inclusive of PP children. As a governor I have just read our latest PP report and it is all about ensuring that there are no barriers to children because of disadvantage, it's fundamental to how a good school should operate.

Weird to be charged for it. Should be free. Our school party is next week and the PTA fund it out of funds they’ve raised through the year. The Will have bounce houses, games, crafts, snack and a small gift.

The school have pupil premium and discretionary funding for exactly this sort of thing - to stop a child missing out.

So if you can afford it, pay because it helps your school and child. If you can't, go for the funding.

If your general gripe is that it's in school hours, join your PTA and help woth the organising.

The issue is that only yesterday there was someone saying that they didn't want activities outside of school hours, and another person moaning that their school wasn't putting on anything. They really cannot win. An optional party with gift with a cost attach and an alternative of a film seems fair to me as long as there's provision for pupil premium children

Our PTA offer financial support for events with a fee. It might be worth contacting them to see if they will help.

Our pts would not do this. There are events like this, but no child is ever excluded. It is very wrong.

This happened at a school I was supply teaching at recently.
Needless to say, there was one child who hadn't paid. But these were 6 year olds! I bundled her along with the rest of the class.

That's very unfair if that's true.
It would be disgraceful and non inclusive for that to happen and I'm also surprised that they'd allow it, let alone initiate it.
It might be the wording not being thought out on the letter, but the school need telling even if it was unintentional.
Children wouldn't be able to process the other children having loud fun in another room and the feeling of being left out.

Feel free to post the details here and I’ll enjoy writing an email to the school, and the PTA.

And include a lovely review on their Facebook/local pages etc….

I agree that this is out of order, but I think it is legal. This doesn't fall into the list of things for which schools are not allowed to charge and, in any case, I suspect the PTA is charging people rather than the school. I would, however, question why it is happening on school time. If the school says it is educational, they definitely can't charge for it.

School trips are educational though. Or at least you can see there's a cost there because it involves transport, a business of some kind being involved, etc. If you want to do a school Christmas party for kids you don't need to buy food, drinks and gifts, just put music on and do some Christmas games using what you already have in school. Kids are excited enough by music and all being in the hall together instead of being in a lesson, it doesn't need to be anything extreme.

That’s dreadful. £4.50 is a lot of money if you don’t have it. I would complain and hope that enough parents refuse.

I've always vetoed any PTA activity during school hours that requires kids to pay

I think this is bang out of order.

School trips by law must be voluntary contribution only, and no child can be excluded because of lack of payment. Either someone else (usually PP or PTA) covers the cost, or the trip does not go ahead.

I think events such as this should be on the same principle, because it is within the school day, but don't know if that's a legal requirement @prh47bridge - what do you think?

Even if legal, I think it's wrong

@Pickleandtomatoes your last update makes it even worse! Literally forcing you to agree to pay. Not acceptable.

I agree. To some 4.50 can be petrol or food. This is in very poor taste. At best 1, a miminal amount as a donation not mandatory.

Another one agreeing that's completely out of order. I cannot imagine this being sanctioned in the school I work in.

If you find that there will in fact be children excluded cna you please PM me with details of the school and I will give them the money for any children that cannot attend due to funds, this is outrageous

I suppose if it’s presented as two options of Christmas activity, a movie or a party, and one is free then that is within guidelines? Similar to when there are activity days and one option is a paid trip?

£4.50 could be a breaking point for some families at this time of year - especially if they’ve got more than one child. YANBU.

Have they specifically said in writing that children won't be allowed to attend unless the £4.50 is paid?