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Original poster

If you are a low income household what kind of help do you want from the PTA?

59 replies

WineIsMyMainVice · 19/01/2022 21:12

I live in a village where the average house sells for above the national average. People also move here because there is a really good school. So there are a lot of ‘well to do’ households. But - I know of families that also struggle….
The school have been without a PTA for a couple of years for various reasons and I’ve joined the newly formed committee. We’ve decided to put together an assistance fund for the funded kids, so that when we put on events they can (anonymously) get a free place etc.
We’re also looking at things like Xmas jumpers etc that could be passed on so that these children aren’t left out.
So my question is, how do we communicate this to those parents/carers that the PTA is here to do that? If you’re in that situation how would you like it to work?
If you were to get a letter from the PTA which is sent out by the school saying that we don’t know who you are but we’re here for you and you can always request a free place at our events etc (I.e only the school office would know), would that work? So the idea is that the parent would contact the office and ask for the Assistance Program to fund their child’s place, and then the PTA would pay it (whatever it is - but not know who it’s for) and that’s that.
Would that work? Or if not does anyone have any better suggestions?
Thanks a lot. This is a cause close to my heart so I just want to make sure it’s done in the best way possible and without causing anyone any embarrassment etc.

OP posts:
kitkatsky · 19/01/2022 21:14

I think it'd be better as a letter from the school, eg Class 3 are going to the zoo next week and we require a contribution of £x for transport and entry. If you are in receipt of free school meals, the PTA have kindly agreed to find your place if you're unable to afford it. Please contact the office directly to set this up

Namechangeforthis88 · 19/01/2022 21:18

When I was on parent council we funded some things for parents that would otherwise struggle, so that all children could be included. The school arranged it though, we just gave them money, didn't know names. The school would tell parents that they thought could do with help. People that need it are often the least likely to ask

Namechangeforthis88 · 19/01/2022 21:22

It's also thinking about how joining in school community events that fundraise can get pricey, especially for larger families. I was always campaigning to reduce the entry price for fundraising events. We never spent all the money anyway!

LadyFuschia · 19/01/2022 21:23

Our school is similar and the head tends to know which families are in receipt of free school meals and so she & the office just let us know what money is needed.

We usually put a blanket statement on letters anyway to try and ensure that we are reaching all.

Maryann1975 · 19/01/2022 21:37

I know several families who do not qualify for free school meals but struggle to afford school trips/events/all the extra stuff required for school. So if you don’t get fsm, you aren’t going to get anything else. But it could get difficult to know which families should qualify for help, I agree with @Namechangeforthis88, those that need it the most, are least likely to ask for assistance and will struggle through, making savings elsewhere so their child doesn’t go without.

I’ve known Very well off parents not pay for trips because school asked for a voluntary contribution and they ‘didn’t see why they should have to pay when others would get it free’.

DaisyTheUnicorn · 19/01/2022 21:41

All the outfits for dressup days if your school does 100 of these a year can be tricky. Worth planning a swap day or even just the PTA funding some bits the teachers can have to give to anyone who turns up not as a roman etc (like the hat and sword/ oh look I have a spare toga...)

I dont think the PTA should make a big song and dance of "oh we dont know who you are" or call it an "Assistance Programme." Noone likes to feel "othered" or that they are the ones needing help.

Does a senior staff member come to pta meetings? I am sure they can guide you if you are offering them money for these reasons. "If we were to donate £500 to help those struggling how would you spend it? "

Original poster
WineIsMyMainVice · 19/01/2022 21:50

Thanks to everyone for all your comments. They are all very valid. Thank you.

OP posts:
picklemewalnuts · 19/01/2022 21:51

Set up systems so it's not essential to spend on extras- have a jumper swap day, or have spare jumpers in that DC can choose from of they don't have one on the day.

If it's made normal to use those systems, people can do it without shame.

Make the invitation for a trip clear that it isn't compulsory. Letter return by day x. Ask the parents who don't sign up why not and would it be easier if it were cheaper? 'We can cover that from the school fund, if you'd like Johnny to go.'

"We have a system to allow trips to be paid for in instalments. Let us know if that would help" Then don't chase for the payments.

Onionpatch · 19/01/2022 21:58

The PTA where i work does a couple of nice things - so the cake sale, the money is collected in the classroom in the morning and all the children go and pick a cake at the end of the day whether they have paid or not and only the teacher would know.

The events have become cashless, and parents buy token in advance (so 1 token is a tombolo, or jolly jam jar or hook a duck and 5 tokens is a burger ec) . The PTa give the school tokens to give to families that might need them.

JanuaryBluehoo · 19/01/2022 22:01

I'm not sure the pta are best placed to know or ask. The pta at our school gets on everyone's nerves. They will spent a fortune useless and tasteless projects.

With some asking of opinions etc they could have tweaked issues... And turned disasters into proper functional spaces.

There were times when we could have done with some assistance and Xmas jumper day is one of day where people tend to feel pressure or world book day?
Having some costumes at school for dc who don't have any would be useful.

SockFluffInTheBath · 19/01/2022 22:01

@Namechangeforthis88

When I was on parent council we funded some things for parents that would otherwise struggle, so that all children could be included. The school arranged it though, we just gave them money, didn't know names. The school would tell parents that they thought could do with help. People that need it are often the least likely to ask
This. You don’t need to know who these kids are, that would embarrass the families. Donate your stuff to the school, let the teachers pass it on.
SmellyNelliey · 19/01/2022 22:11

Where also in a village, our school has a group called "the friends of school name" we raise lots of money throughout the school year raffles pizza days just a small donation 1pound being the maximum, hear and there some parents will donate change ect this money then covers the whole school of children... This brings the cost of things down alot recently had a school theatre trip that cost 4.67 per child parentsalso know if they cannot afford this to contact the school and it will be covered, there is also a donation box for uniforms to help those family that need the help.. Brilliant system for familys that are struggling

ToastedCrumpetWithCheese · 19/01/2022 22:13

Things I've heard about via various schools:

  • Christmas hampers to families in need (with their agreement that they would like one delivered home)
  • Donated school uniform (freely available to anyone, just located in the school foyer)
  • Standing orders from families who can afford it into a school fund for those pupils that need equipment, trip costs, school shoes etc. Reduces lots of PTA fundraising that puts pressure on families they're trying to support.
Seemssounfair · 19/01/2022 22:33

The PTA can help by being the voice for the parents and get the school to think of alternatives to things like Christmas jumper day that don't cost parents money. Organise and promote a uniform swap shop as eco friendly.

Raise funds for the school, the school will have priorites that extra funding would be spent on. You can discuss with the school how the the parents you represent would like it spent and see if that matches any of the schools priorities.

However you do it it needs to be done via the school as the PTA should not have knowledge of which children have parents with financial hardships and have received extra help. That is way outside your remit.

Isthatthebestyoucando · 19/01/2022 22:33

Doing away with dress up for this and dress up for that days to fund raise for the school would help more than passing anything on descretley, just ask for the fucking pound so it doesn't have to cost anyone an outfit plus a pound. I struggle keeping up with with the whims of these creative minded people, no way in hell I would ask for the school to provide for my child but they do need to stop thinking up new and different things that I should provide for the child to fit in, it's no fun.

Give out an envelope, ask for a coin. I don't want to do the trimmings that's what makes me feel 'low income'.

Isthatthebestyoucando · 19/01/2022 22:39

The PTA can help by being the voice for the parents and get the school to think of alternatives to things like Christmas jumper day that don't cost parents money. Organise and promote a uniform swap shop as eco friendly.

Yes eco friendly, it's less insulting. Ask everyone to bring in an old t shirt, buy a bunch of fabric pens and have the kids design their own christmas top. It's great how things that save the planet also stop people going into their overdraft by the 2nd of the month.

Apple40 · 19/01/2022 22:42

The PTA at our local infant school was great, through the fund raising ALL children when they start in Reception were given a book bag and summer hat for free, the idea was these should last for three years you were in the school and if needed replacing you would buy them. Families on FSM got 1 piece of school uniform brought form them and were eligible to take part in 1 after school club for free. Also through fund raising lots of whole school trips were paid for by the PTA. The downside was it always felt like the PTA had an event on and I started to joke I need to fund raise to support fund raising in the school.

RagzRebooted · 19/01/2022 22:45

@Onionpatch

The PTA where i work does a couple of nice things - so the cake sale, the money is collected in the classroom in the morning and all the children go and pick a cake at the end of the day whether they have paid or not and only the teacher would know.

The events have become cashless, and parents buy token in advance (so 1 token is a tombolo, or jolly jam jar or hook a duck and 5 tokens is a burger ec) . The PTa give the school tokens to give to families that might need them.

I love both these ideas.
FinallyHere · 19/01/2022 22:46

You are doing a really good thing.

I'm not sure how useful a letter would be.

While I'm not involved in our local school at all, I do know some of the staff quite well. They know the kids and tend to get to know the families. They are also in a position to provide exactly the help that his required, in the background without anyone else knowing.

Cereal bars for those who lack breakfast, shoes, uniform "outgrown by others " etc.

It would be great if their PTA could make funds available and then leave it up the teachers to distribute. It may not provide the warm fuzzies to the giver but it really does help those that need help without having their pride impacted.

guardiansofthegalaxychocs · 19/01/2022 22:59

My children aren’t FSM but have been in the past. Mostly to not constantly do things that require money that children get roped into. At Christmas our PTA made parents pay to put their children on the ‘nice list’ to get a present from Santa. It’s just extortion.

Second hand uniform and non uniform days which are easy to source things for are also good.

fuckyouj · 19/01/2022 23:03

Don't call it an assistance programme or expect parents to apply. The parents who genuinely need it won't want to through embarrassment. The parents who don't need it will apply in droves because they think they're getting a freebie.

Run a secondhand uniform thing. Call it something like a swap shop, pre loved or pay as you feel though to reduce the stigma around secondhand clothing

If you're running PTA events, don't make bringing in a bottle or donating cash a mandatory part of it. Because some parents genuinely can't afford that £1 or a bottle of something. Would you want your child to be the one left out because that £1 in your purse is the toss up between a dressing up day or a bowl of fruit at the market for the weekly breaktime snack?

All things I have learned the hard way. Thankfully DC1's secondary school take a much more sensible approach to things. DC2's new school seem to actually get it unlike their last school.
And dc2's school's 'pay as you feel' uniform rack is much loved and well used by people both donating uniform and people needing uniform.

Northernsoullover · 19/01/2022 23:04

I'll never forget one children in need pyjama day. All our pyjamas were faded and half mast on the children's legs. So children in need got their 4 quid (2 pound per child) Tescos got 30 from me for pyjamas and dressing gowns. So I agree with prev posters. Stop this shit where it costs parents more than the donation.

Goodluckanddontfuckitup · 19/01/2022 23:06

Having a bank of jumpers/outfits for any dress up days is a brilliant idea. Although it's not always to do with money if a child isn't dressed in whatever the theme is. I've taught kids from extremely wealthy families where the reason why they were in uniform was because their parents didn't take enough interest in their school life to know what was going on. I agree with pp saying make the funds available then leave it up to the teachers. They know the kids.

MissM2912 · 19/01/2022 23:11

Haven’t read all the comments but worth remembering that free school meals can be a fairly crude measure- there are many working poor families. I work in this area and those accessing discretionary support are often those with a working parent who don’t get help with rent etc.

NewtoHolland · 19/01/2022 23:15

Our school have a second hand uniform shed, people donate coats and dressing up outfits for the dressing up days as well as normal uniform. It's £1 suggested donation per item, but if someone is struggling they don't have to pay.