School asking for money already - DD doesn't start until Aug

[Wrongornot]

This is just the beginning isn't it?

DD is starting school this year, got a letter on Friday asking for £30. To go and see a musical in October?! It did say 'should you wish to send her', however it also said that the whole school (12 pupils) were invited and that it would be 'logistically easier' if everyone went. Presumably meaning that they would need to provide someone to stay with any kids that didn't go at school.

AIBU that:

a) it is too early to be asking
b) it is too expensive
c) it is not really educational (Shrek)

Or am I just being miserable and there is much worse to come?

YANBU.

There are 12 pupils in the school?

not sure i'd want to take a Reception child to a show, but actually it's good they've told you now rather than hitting you with it in February surely?

Yes just 12 of them so mixture of ages 5-12. DD will be 5.5 when she starts and she will enjoy it and sit through it - it is just such a large amount of unexpected outlay.

It is small village school so expect most of the money will go towards travel - although letter doesn't say where the show is I expect it will be in closest city 25 miles away.

Reception children at our school are invited on a whole school trip to the panto in Nov. Which probably comes as a shock to the parents but seems to be a great experience for the children.
Most trips are cheaper though, but as a pp said theatre tickets are very expensive.

Yanbu! Make me rethink. Is it private? Sounds like they need the money. Also if she reception age i wouldn't take her as she be worn out!

I'm guessing if your school year starts in August and your daughter's school only has 12 pupils then it must be somewhere quite remote in Scotland. So travel costs will be quite high to get them to whatever town/city the production is on at. It is a lot but, if my guesswork is correct, she might not have lots of opportunities to see shows so perhaps as a once-a-year treat it's acceptable and, as pp said, you have several months to save up.

Our trips were always really expensive as I went to a tiny village school too :(

Shrek is supposed to be brilliant (I'm going to see it with OH in November!) but it does seem really steep, even with travel factored in :(

Sorry, x-post.

Actually, 25 miles isn't too far - you could take her when she's a bit older if you don't fancy shelling out/don't think she will be mature enough to appreciate it.

Sorry yes, Scotland. Not private, yes remote!

I will pay it (have written cheque), just came as a surprise and not something I expected through the post! Also worrying that it is just the start of things to come!

Also forgot mention in first post that they required the money by this Friday, so 1 week to find the money from receiving letter.

What about the kids who have already seen it? Pay £30 to watch it again?

They're doing it before you parents meet in September and have a chance to unionise!

Its actually on DVD now (the stage show not the original animated film!) At 5 I probably wouldn't pay out for it as a school trip, just get her the DVD. Would pay if child was older or if it was a family trip

To put it I to perspective a little. I'm a cub leader and live about the same distance from inverness as your closest city. We share a trip to the pantomime every year with the Beavers so we can keep cost a little lower but we took 12 last year. The bus cost more than £200 and the tickets only reduced in price for a group booking when booking over 10. So actually £30 is probably about right.
I actually also don't think it is too early either. It will be a group booking and they will be booking asap for October. By sending the letter now they are giving the p1's the option of going rather than be left behind. And since it appears there maybe only be one or two of them I think it's more important they give you the option to go.

You're right it is usually the transport that makes up most of the cost. Our school will not take infants on public transport.

Most kids thoroughly enjoy a school trip, even if they've seen it before. Our school organises quite a few trips each year and always asks for "voluntary" donations. However if people opt not to pay then it unlikely the trip will be able to go ahead.

From what I've read on here there appear to be schools with plenty of trips which can be a bit expensive sometimes and other schools with very few trips probably because the parents either won't or can't pay. I sometimes get irritated by the amounts but on balance am happy that the trips are happening.

I organise educational visits so have a lot of experience, the reason they will be asking so early is that Theatres only hold tickets for a short amount of time for schools to purchase (about a 2-3 week window) before they go on sale to the general public. £30 seems to be an ok amount for a show visit and any visit outside of school is educational, for your DD if she is in Reception it will go towards her Social and Personal side of things, being in a unfamiliar venue etc.

In terms of financial contribution (unless your Dd is going to an independent) all visits should ask for a voluntary contribution not a compulsory one - visits shouldn't be compulsory, if enough people don't pay then the visits simply get cancelled.

I wish my DDs school did more visits, they do a Panto at Christmas and then one at the end of the year (last year not enough parents paid so that visit was cancelled).