just confronted school over money and favouring children

[vodkanchocolate]

Not quite sure what response im after by posting this guess just a rant really. Before I start I just want to point out im not bashing anyone or trying to think I know everything regarding circumstances because I fully admit I dont.

My main annoyance tbh is that school have been running an holiday club for key stage 2 children, before Easter my daughter had asked if she could attend this wasnt something I could financially allow her to do the price was something like 45 for a full week or something like that it did sound really good but as I explained I do have 4 other children to fund over the holidays, she kind of understood and left it at that obviously upset her friends were going, when she went back one of her best friends had told her school had paid for her to go, as I explained to dd at time there must be serioous issues why they would do that, and tbh its only the word of a 9 year old. So couple weeks ago they sent home slips to the next holiday club again dd asked to attend she got the same answer, but her father this time offered to pay we took slip to school today to be told its already booked up for year4 children, come out of school and said its not fair because all the same kids are going as last time including this particular girl who apparently bragged she doesnt have to pay for anything to dd (again word of a 9 year old)... This is the 3rd time dd has missed out on extra activities due to me not been able to have money on time this is despite me talking to the school which im fully aware is my own fault (some might say bad parenting) but I know for a fact if on certain benefits school are taking contributions at parents own discretion for things such as trips and even milk and snacks - I just find it really unfare to working low income families who are struggling. Was not long ago I got into debt with school dinner money and the way school made me feel and forced me to put my eldest on packed lunches

I know im probilly been totally ott and coming across as been a total cow, but on way out of school I had a word with the parent worker didnt mention about the holiday club as that tbh is just hear say, but Ive got to pay out for 3 childrens trips to ywp in 3 weeks 15 per child which I know is the going rate so no issue until my neighbourt told me shes only paying 8.00 per child (shes a carer for husband) I have also almost finished paying for my daughters residential we were given a payment plan or 5 per week to pay for it and she seems to think a few of the kids are only paying 2.00 a week. So I just asked her if there is anyway I can spread mt cost of trips as I was struggling to pay it by the deadline and she said only at the heads discretion and wanted to know what i heard about other parents. She seemed pretty understanding and did stress that school have to take a responsibility for vulnerable children, and said if I was honestly struggling I have to arrange to speak to the head, which wont be happening way he made me feel over the school dinner debt, it was like oh you dont qualify for them free see you later sort of attitude!!

I feel a bit silly for saying out but I felt it had to be adressed, we have spoke before about money issues and she offered to go through things with us but if not entitled to anything more than what get not alot they can do tbh but I think it be nice to know if ever we were really stuck the children wouldnt be made to suffer....considering putting my feelings in writing but would it get me anywhere?

Surely im not the oly person who is annoyed by this sort of thing? Its the school im annoyed with not the families in question

I do think its great for the children I really do too many kids round here whos only trip over holidays is taking themself to the local park. I would have loved it if schools were able to have helped when I was at school I was always the poor kid who couldnt go anywhere, wanted better for my own kids so trying my hardest

it's hard when you don't have much money but still have to pay full whack for things. I feel for you OP, but I don't think the school are technically doing anything wrong.

Ineedacleaningfairy - my thoughts exactly

Choosing to have five children is going to be tough financially, that's why some people choose to have fewer because five x school trips etc is expensive.
Hope things improve

Yes I know theres so many people in worse situations, I guess im just annoyed about daughter not getting places more than anything. Plus side is ive told her the money her dads given her me and her can go do something without the little ones she seems happy with that.

I will have a word with school see if cant put her name down for something, wouldnt be as bad if they gave more notice for things.

Thank you for the replies anyway x

I would just point out that the only one of my planned pregancys was twins very typically, yes in an ideal world I shouldnt of had 5 kids when we are in a low wage house hold but when your contaception fails for a second time what are you supposed to do? Sorry just annoys me when people patronise me over it

Sorry, I don't work at a school in England so don't know about Pupil Premium but OP, some help can be given at headteacher's discretion at the school I work in, particularly for expensive trips and events. Can you have a quiet word with your headteacher?

I am shocked that you will have to try to find £45 to fund your children's three trips at £15 each. That's a huge amount and, at my school we do fundraising and use school funds to subsidise day trips so that they will cost pupils an absolute maximum of £8, but more usually £5-6. Even then, we can ask for parents to pay, but some don't pay at all and we don't pursue this.

But Zanussi anyone could have been in the same situation as me and received the pupil premium for five years despite not being dirt poor and not being able to feed clothe kids. It's very short sighted to say those receiving pupil premium are all from that walk of life. You don't know and are making a snapshot judgement

The holiday club might suit children whose parents work, however, it also is good for children whose home life is so shitty that they need to be out of it as much as possible. Food may also be provided for them at the club.

Some kids really dread the holidays. Schools look out for them.

OP, might it be better to put the money her dad's given aside for a future club? That way, the next time the letter comes home you have the money and can pay straight away and the places won't already have been filled.

We were on benefits short term due to illness. We got our mortgage interest paid and I also got dependents allowance due to being at uni along with DHs employment support allowance. We coped ok as it was for a short time as you say.
But lots of kids who were a similar situation for a very short time could be receiving the PP for their whole time at school and I don't think it's fair to summarise they get it due to being dirt poor iyswim.

Is that rule in place? During 2010 my children received FSM. I have since regained (and lost) employment, stopped receiving child benefit, married and started receiving minimal child support. I know my children do not attract the pupil premium (I was supporting the class teacher to ectract said data from the school database to show booster session effectiveness etc).

Yes if you have fsm in last six years school,gets the premium

Zanussi, that does happen. I know of 2 children whose mother was unemployed when she and their father split up 4 years ago. She was entitled to FSM. since then ahe has met and married a multi-millionaire and her family live in what can only be described as a mahoosive mansion (don't know how many beds but there's def a pool and 2 gyms). School still receives PP money for those children.

I do the think that the system could be better though. (An example of the low paid working being much worse off than those on benefits)

I hear this banded about alot but I rarely see the reality of it when kids are involved. A single person earning £16,000 a year will get £16,000 (tax etc obv). A single parent with 4 children on £16,000 a year will get an added £240 per week on top of that, plus £15 a week WTC, plus £50 a week CB and whatever the father pays in maintence.

Anyone who says they can't affort school dinners needs to sort out their lifestyle.

Sorry YABU.

I get where you are coming from and have been in this situation. I would write down how you feel and get someone else to read it before you send it. I get that you understand that pp children do need to be considered but I wouldn't mention that in your letter as it may cause friction and defensiveness and is really nobody elses business.

Discretionary fund! Ha! My school certainly doesn't have spare money to give out. It's annoying yes but not the schools fault.

-rummages through school budget to find a spare tuppence ha'penny.

Sorry, I do appreciate that things can be very tough but there has to be a cut off for financial assistance and the Government in their wisdom has decreed that Pupil Premium funding goes to those with specific income levels and it is this funding that allows the school to offer free places/schooltrips/additional support/music lessons etc. There are very few schools with spare pots of money hanging around for worthy causes, where would you draw the line?

The school will always chase dinner money debts. There will be a clear policy on what level of debt triggers what steps. This is applied regardless of your situation as Free School Meals are designed to support families access dinners once certain criteria are reached. It is not personal and if you ask for a copy of the policy, the school will show you. This has been brought in by every school since local authorities passed the responsibility for dinner money debt onto school.

As previous posters have said, pupil premium will support other children to access support for trips and clubs. This is down to individual governing bodies to decide whether they wish to use the money in this way.

However headteachers have always had some discretion to support individuals to access trips and this will include a variety of different circumstances. There is no money set aside for this though so if lots of people say they can't pay, the trip won't happen. Any reasonable head will work with you especially if you go in and explain circumstances and offer a solution like an extended payment period or an amount you can afford.

Go in and talk to the headteacher and I'm sure they will help you.

I love the whole discressionary fund targeted to children on fsm etc that is always bandied around on these threads my son has been on and off free school meals for a couple of years he was given a couple of books that didnt actually come from the school it came from a charity i pay full price for all trips and send him in with a packed lunch because they have to get so many kids fed they force them to eat fast and he struggles to do that

They dont give him free milk although he is supposed to get it i have to pay (and he still doesnt get it) he definatly does not get an ipad free internet free access to extra help and support free trips or whatever else people think your suddenly entitled to when your poor no he is not prioritised for clubs i dont know where his pupil premium money goes but its not on him

The same goes for people perminantly on fsm in my school

All we get is attutude from some staff members one parent left the school after her son fell ripped his trousers on the way to school she took him in and said i will be back with new trousers shortly she returned to hear staff members saying he is a fsm child so his parents can't afford clothing well she can afford her ciggies though she flipped and removed him