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.

[JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar]

There will be children who are only able to afford to go to Spanish (or whatever) club because it is being offered at relatively low cost at the school.

I would rather that these children got the opportunity to take part than none, which is what would happen if clubs like these were pulled.

It's similar with school trips - there is no way many parents could afford to go skiing en famille, but they could manage to send a child with their school. Other parents couldn't, which is a shame.

WRT private companies making a profit whilst using school property - if they weren't allowed to do this we (as in my family) wouldn't have access to the well-priced, resourced and safe wraparound care that we rely on. Private does not necessarily mean Big Bad Capitalist Bastards.

[DogsBestFriend]

"LtEveDallas - I actually felt physically sick reading your post"

"The bit that made me feel sick was 'Children should NOT grow up thinking that everyone is equal'

Of course she it entitled to her views but it did make me feel sick, and quite sad."

Oh get a grip!

[squeakytoy]

I agree with those who have said you put yourselves into this position. Would it not have made more sense for to take it in turns at giving up your jobs, then your children wouldnt have to miss out on so much.

[whostolemyname]

Agree with IloveTiffany and others who have said similar. Sorry but YABU.

[kat2504]

Depends on the age of the children lisacat MFL is not required in KS1 but they should have some provision for it in KS2, during normal school teaching time. I agree that language provision is very variable between different junior schools.

I will also say that I managed to get a degree in French without ever attending a club which involved singing little songs and playing little games with puppets. I think these clubs are lovely for getting kids interested, but they are not exactly going to end up fluent as a result!

If they want to improve MFL provision in schools they should overturn the decision to make it optional post 14.

[chill1243]

Analysing this thread I would say there is more harshness than comppasion.
Sort of more Daily torygraph than Guardian or Indy.

There is some practical advice being given to polly ,library etc, and she should welcome that.

Mumsnet is often a more mixed bag of opinions than this thread shows. Thats what I like about it.

Thats why Aunty Beeb does not take all panel members from the same party for Question Time on TV. But to be frank party politicians are too predictable to be interesting.

I would go into deep mourning if Mumsnet sites were to become like a Tory./Labour /Liberal or Green Party Political brroadcast

Its variety which turns me on.

[electra]

Nothing annoys me more than people polishing their imaginary halos and bragging about what they can afford and how they've saved blah blah blah, then imply that only rich people should have children. Shame on you, whoever posted that - you are not above poor people.

To the OP YANBU - there should at least be a chance for some kids to get subsidised places in a school setting. Whoever said that poor people need help for their children to get equal opportunities in life has it right. After all this is educational, not a bouncy castle or trip to disney land.

[electra]

The OP is also getting harsh judgement for trying to earn more money I see - how helpful of you all. Sadly you can't do right from wrong if you're poor.

[LtEveDallas]

YY to Strandedbear, fivegomad, betty et al.

When DD was born DH and I decided that I would be the one to go back to work and him stay at home because my earning potential was better (despite me wanting nothing more than to stay at home with her, and DH wanting to be at work). We also decided not to have another child straight away (even though I wanted one), so that DD could have the advantages that our parents could not provide when we were children - esp DH, his family was seriously below the poverty line (think mum not eating for 2 days every week so that the children could).

These were choices we made based on the hand that life dealt us, we could have made other choices, but ultimately by doing so DD would have 'suffered' (but only in the monetary sense).

OP has chosen to become a student, her DH has done the same. Yes her DD may be 'suffering' because they cannot afford a Spanish class, but that was a result of their choices, so why should anyone, (other parents, the school, the Government) subsidise this luxury?

[bruffin]

YABU
We have had to cancel DD's music lessons because we can't afford them anymore.

[AitchTwoOh]

i applaud the OP and her husband for going back to university, that must have been a hard, hard decision. and i completely understand her point re these classes and hope that some PTA funds can be accessed to help out.

re ltevedallas' 'sickening' post. i absolutely CRINGE at the idea that you would point out little x as having no money for lessons at all to your child. i imagine that would have hit the OP like a kick to the guts, given that it may very well be her dd that you are talking about.

[LtEveDallas]

(Oh and I do feel differently about school trips etc, things essential to the system, to the curriculum - We always pay more than the school asks for for these things because we know that there are children in the class that wont be able to pay - these are essential to the childs education and would be devisive if there were children that could not go - but Spanish, outside school hours, is a luxury)

[southmum]

Chill, yes I dont have alot of compassion for people who put themselves deliberately below the poverty line and then whine that they cant afford LUXURIES. I save my compassion for those who are at that point through no fault of their own.

Its admirable that they are doing this to better themselves, it really is, but they must have surely known that by giving up two jobs would mean less money all round

[kat2504]

I for one am not judging her for trying to improve her education and prospects. However it is a fact that choices have consequences. There will be lots of things they can't afford. Her daughter can't have a pony or go on a ski trip either. Perhaps if she does contact the school she may well find out that the PTA does have some sort of fund. If not she could just buy one of those language dvds for kids and watch it at home. They could learn some together.

OP has decided to take a short term pain for long term gain strategy. Unfortunately that means that you do have to endure the short term pain. She is already being subsidised to do this via the benefits system (I am presuming this is true and apologise if she is not actually entitled to anything)

[LisasCat]

kat you and me both, we should be put in charge of Educational Policy! I think MFL teaching should begin in EYFS, and never be dropped. After school clubs should be for 'exotic' languages, like Russian or Mandarin, but French and Spanish should be a staple of the curriculum, and make this OP's issue redundant.

[EdithWeston]

There has been similar at our school for the whole time my DCs have been there (and was very at the idea that this could possibly be anything to do with the current Government).

Staff clubs are free (except art and cookery which make a small curate for materials), others are charged according to the rates of the company running them - and the charges (except ballet, which is weirdly expensive) are in line with similar classes held at other local venues. It's massively more convenient for these classes to be in the school (otherwise the logistics of ferrying 3 children around would mean some just could not happen).

If school premises could not be used, the classes would continue to exist, and so people would use or not use them depending on inclination, cost and logistics. The perceived inequality would also continue to exist, unless you said that paid-for classes for children must not exist. Moving them out of schools just shifts the problem (fairly literally in this case).

[AitchTwoOh]

cannot resist pointing out at this stage that it is divisive.

[Bonsoir]

I think it is fabulous when a wide variety of high-quality after school activities are tagged onto the school day. It is a way of providing after school care for working parents and it makes the logistics of getting children to after school activities much less of a burden for parents and children alike. My DD's school offers a wide variety of activities (many of which are in fact run by teachers, who have every right to be paid for their time and skills too) and we love them.

It is sad that not all children can afford to do the activities they would like, but that is hardly a reason for censuring such activities for all.

[AurraSing]

Could you speak to the company directly? They may have spare places and would be willing to give you the place for, say £50. Better to have some money than an empty place.

I doubt your DD would learn much in 9 weeks, though.

[electra]

Learning Spanish should not be a luxury though - it is one of the most useful languages to learn at the moment, which, as such would be something which would help poor children get a leg up as they go through school and for employment etc.

[LisasCat]

^ to kat's earlier post

[going]

YABU, My DD2 would like to join every club available. I have had to refuse two, music lessons and a dance class as we just can't afford it. She understands (is 7), neither of us expect anyone else to pay.

I agree with the the other posters who said you really should have considered this type of situation before you and your husband decided to go to uni at the same time - it was your choice.

[kat2504]

lisascat I would agree with you as long as it is actually taught properly. A lot of it isn't because primary teachers are not language specialists and even though they might do their best, they often don't have the subject knowledge. I am a secondary MFL teacher and I would love to get a job teaching MFL in primary schools but no luck so far. Mostly they can't afford to employ a specialist teacher.

[chill1243]

If schools were really like Waterloo Road on TV last night; we would really have something to worry about. I missed some of the football for that barrel of belly laughs. But to be fair it did win an award. And excess drama is what pulls in the punters.

[antshouse]

I can understand that she's disappointed if she enjoyed the taster session. Could you try teaching her at home using library books from the children's section? If she's still keen at the end of term you could suggest that she asks her grandparents for money for christmas to put towards next terms lessons.