Private companies running classes in state schools, DD can't go because we are poor, AIBU to complain??

[PollyPeppa]

We are below the poverty line as we have 3 DC's and DH and I are full time uni students. We worked in low paid jobs and decided enough was enough and are now hoping to get better ones after university.

DD's school had just started up after school Spanish club. We sent her along to the trial session and she loved it. We had foolishly assumed there would be a concessionary rate (as there usually is with after school clubs) but there is not as it is run by a private company so we can't afford for her to go again.

I feel this is very unfair to offer this as only children whose parents can afford to send them can go, I think it creates a divide in the 'state' system.

PollyPeppa, are your children getting free school meals? I ask this because at my DD's school free meal recipients get to do after school clubs totally free of charge. There is a fund at the school that pays the businesses that come in to do the clubs.

cba reading the whole thread but you have the luxury of you and your OH going to uni full time and getting paid something for it presumably

if you are that hard up, why didnt one do their degree first, then the other one do it afterwards when that one is in work

you choose not to work. Therefore your kids must suffer. Why should anyone give you handouts so that you and your OH can swan about in University.

wtf? OP and her OH are doing their best to improve their qualifications. At some expense. Thats not 'swanning about'. ffs

But they must accept that something will suffer, including their children, why should we subsidise their child to go to an afterschool club, when we can't even afford for my dc to have the music lessons they want, even though two of us are working.

Ok... I have spoken to the headteacher and asked that if they are going to allow advertising and use of school premises to private companies that they request the companies operate a more inclusive agenda and offer a number of places at concessionary rates fo rchildren who wouldn't otherwise have the chance to learn with them.

She has also informed me that all funding for concessionary rates has now been stopped..... It was provided by the 'your time' scheme which has now been stopped by the LA.

Jenai Sorry, late getting back to the thread. "Do you feel the same about LA provided music lessons? Because they don't come cheap - yet they offer thousands of children the opportunity to learn an instrument that otherwise wouldn't be available to them."

LA provided music lessons are available for free or at a very reduced rate for the less well off (at least they have been every time I've had reason to look in to it, which isn't often). If they were only available to the well off in schools then I would have a problem with them as well. I already think there is a big problem for those just above the subsidised level in affording school based activities.

My position is basically that we should be spending a lot more on our youth (yes, even in these straitened times) in order to make activities free and inclusive for all.

It really annoys me that we mandate all sorts of spending on health and safety and checking boxes for kid related things, but don't actually make sure they can do a wide range of high quality and enriching activities. I think those priorities are all wrong, not because health and safety is unimportant, but because the approach is inefficient and poor value, and the focus is on proving diligence rather than on developing and using good judgement.

Well then you can blame our lovely government. Clearly there used to be funding but now it has fallen victim to the Cuts. Write and complain to your MP.

To be fair, I did swan about at uni and had a whale of a time. I'd give my eye teeth to be able to do that again. I don't resent the OP doing it though, although she should accept that in taking that route her and her family will have to do without for a while (although as I understand it they're better off than they were before, albeit through loans).

What is horribly depressing on this thread though is that the OP and others seem to feel that because their some children aren't able to partake for financial reasons, then none should.

That attitude is just as mean spirited as turning around as saying "tough titties - you're poor". More so possibly.

x-posts there, Prospects

I couldn't agree more.

my dd goes to state school - there are CONSTANTLY things in her book bag offers for some fancy school after school course or something or other and of course money is always involved. the latest thing is that they have made a whole big thing getting the kids all excited about having a school photograph despite already having in the year one of them and one of their class, both of which i always get BUT the cheapest school photo is £25 - i have told dd that out of principal we won't be getting one and that at the age of 8 i think it unecessary, more something i think for when she is older. the school is always after money and i think at times makes it harder for people who are struggling moneywise - ie kids having to pay £1 to go to school (for charity) not in school uni so the kids who are in school uni' stand out which i think stinks, the list goes on. i think they make it really hard for some people sometimes, i feel sorry for them and their kids

£70 for 9 weeks seems a lot to me. How many children take the class?

pollypeppa that is a shame.

It would be good if the school put it in a bulletin or something so that all parents are aware.

And if they (you?!) could try and think of ways of making things more accessible / an alternative fund for concessions etc

PollyPeppa yubu my son wanted to go on the year 6 leavers trip but at £300 we could not afford it and I and my oh both work

People on the dole only had to find £90 of that £300 and the school absorbed the rest

The question is why should people who have never worked get to go on school trips basically paid for by my tax who cannot afford to send their dd

Basically it works out the same for all their will be working parents who cannot afford clubs and extras

Why should people who choose not to work be a special cases unless you ar asking for yet more handouts and expect the school to provide all clubs for free for non workers

The club is being run by somebody other than the school. Presumably they will have expenses to cover. the costs have to be met somehow. Do you expect Tesco ( or sainsbury or wherever you do your shopping) to subsidise you because you are on a low income? Or do you accept that they are a business and pay whatever the asking price is for your goods? This is really no different. If you can't afford it, it is sad, but your child will not die of Spanish Deprivation.

Also, somebody mentioned earlier in the thread that schools often do not charge for 'after school ' activities. In this borough, the auditors insist that schools charge a standard hire rate for rooms/hall for any event that is not wholly run by the school. So even the PTA have to pay for use of the hall/field etc, for their various fund-raising activities. One particular organisation hires our school hall for an activity club once a week and has to pay extra in the summer, for use of the field, as well as supplying their own loo paper etc for the children to use!

Well I feel quite sympathetic to OP and especially her children. I ABSOLUTELY HATE THIS UK DIVISION between the HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS which is only becoming bigger and bigger. IMO this is not something a civilised society should be proud off. It makes me puke TBH. Also, in my experience, quite a lot of the people who actually have a lot of money, bankers and the like come to mind, have in no way worked any harder to deserve such riches compared with other people, such as farmers come to mind, who are up at dawn and work till late, seven days a week without holidays. What a rotten society this has become!

notherdaynotherdollar - as I have said, we are better off now we are at uni and no we aren't on benefits, we are living on student loans which will need to be paid back to the student loans company

Actually Jenai, my concern for my own children is not that they will be unable to do classes reserved for the wealthy, but that they might be taught at school that their luck in being born to well-off parents means they are better than their peers and worthy of better opportunities.

Maybe you are fine with your children being brought up as entitled brats who learn early that poor children are fucked in terms if opportunities. I'd prefer mine were a little older before learning that lesson.

If I want my children to take private lessons, I'll pay for that myself. If they are taking classes at their school, subsidised by their school, and promoted by their school I expect those classes to be available to poorer children too.

The school can figure out ways to operate and meet their commitments that don't involve promoting taster lessons for courses some if the children won't be able to afford.

They might as well hand out flyers for bicycles at Christmas, or Disneyland in the summer term.

Some kids will have more than others, that's life. But at school they should all be the same. And that means that Spanish classes that cost £70 per term should not be promoted by the school. And that they company running the classes should not be subsidised in any way using public money.

maypole1 that's really sad.

Ds's school always make it clear that if you cannot afford a trip, then arrangements can be made - there is a pot of cash from the PTA, and they are happy for people to pay in installments. It clearly helps that the school is very well supported when it comes to fundraising - Y6 have already started raising funds for their summer residential which will help keep the cost down for everyone and will help sub anyone who is struggling (unemployed or otherwise).

I understand though that if a lot of parents need help then with the best will in the world, that pot of PTA money is spread very thinly (and probably smaller to start off with). In which case tbh £300 is far too much to ask.

Can I just add that WE ARE BETTER OFF NOW with a student loan than when we were both working in minimum wage jobs!!!!!!!!!!

Financially I mean

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar - I am not saying no one should partake, where did I say that? I am saying that biusinesses who are making a profit from the school should in return offer concessionary places to make it more inclusive

Yes DD does get free school meals, that is all we get but still, I would personally like to thank every tax payer on here for that

Maybe you are fine with your children being brought up as entitled brats who learn early that poor children are fucked in terms if opportunities.

Yeah, sure I am

All through this I've stated that we should be looking to extend access to these opportunities to all those who want to avail themselves of them. Stopping all children from accessing them does nothing to reduce inequalities at all - it's saying that if the poor kids can't have them then the almost-poor ones can't either.