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AIBU?

been back at school four days...money requests already started

179 replies

coffeeisnectar · 09/09/2015 18:27

Dd brought home a letter about swimming lessons (which run 30 mins past school finish time) and they are requesting 13.50 to cover "costs". Her old school also did swimming lessons and they were free despite having to mini bus the kids there. At this school it's a five minute walk. I'm not sure what's these costs are.

Went onto parent pay and found two items to be paid for. 12 for art and craft materials. And 195 for music tuition.

They have a three day residential in November costing another 175.

This is just your average state school. Dd is 9. Aibu to think it's taking the kids??

We are on benefits, the school effectively want three weeks income from me in the next month!!

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coffeeisnectar · 09/09/2015 18:27

Taking the piss not kids.

OP posts:

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ghostyslovesheep · 09/09/2015 18:31

4 days - pah - dd3 went back today at 8:45 and came out at 3:15 with a demand for ??10 by Friday for a trip!

DD2 started secondary today and I had to pay ??20 for as trip that's she's on next week ...IN AUGUST!

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ghostyslovesheep · 09/09/2015 18:32

why are my ???????? ???? - I worry about myself sometimes!

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ghostyslovesheep · 09/09/2015 18:32

ahhhhhh no pound signs!

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InimitableJeeves · 09/09/2015 18:36

Isn't music tuition voluntary?

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mum11970 · 09/09/2015 18:36

Coffee, you've made me feel better about the ??3 a week swimming fee and ??40 music I have to pay. There is another installment of ??45 for music to pay at a later date though.

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mum11970 · 09/09/2015 18:38

Appears I've got no pound signs either.

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Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 09/09/2015 18:39

I'm surprised it took that long. TBH.
If you can't afford the key word requested contribution. Go in and tell them. That you simply can't afford it. They can't stop your daughter from joining in with the activity. They can't penalise children because of hard ship. Ofsted are shit hot on inclusion.

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CookieMonsterIsOnADiet · 09/09/2015 18:39

No I don't think it's unreasonable, children cost money so if they want to swim, go away on trips or take music lessons then they need paying for.

Education is free, if we want extras then they need paying for. Nobody needs music lessons or trips away so opt out if you don't want to pay.

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Sirzy · 09/09/2015 18:40

?? (just to see if they work!)

I would question the cost for swimming if they are walking given that swimmjng is part of the curriculum I thought they couldn't charge for it but can for transport?

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Kerberos · 09/09/2015 18:42

I win. ??440 on day 3. For two children. Music, lunch and a residential.

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Homemadeapplepie · 09/09/2015 18:44

Swimming is part of the national curriculum so they are not allowed to charge you (and shouldn't even ask) and if your child gets fsm then music is usually free.

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Loki17 · 09/09/2015 18:44

Music tuition is voluntary. If you want your kid to have music lessons you have to pay for them - they aren't part of the curriculum. ??13.50 to cover the cost of a series of swimming lessons is a bargain. My DD's swimming lessons (outside of school) are ??8 per lesson. If you are on benefits then your children should be in receipt of pupil premium money. Phone the head teacher, he might pay half of each cost. Our head teacher does.

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kewtogetin · 09/09/2015 18:45

So you're moaning about paying 13.50 for swimming lessons?! Jesus ive heard it all now. Swimming is a necessary life skill. It could do something important like ooooh, I don't know, save your daughters life.
Jeez.

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Spartans · 09/09/2015 18:46

How long is the music tuition for?

Surely that's voluntary?

Just because it's on parent pay, it doesn't mean you have to pay. Kicking boxing has shown up on parent pay for ds. He already goes to a club to do it twice a week, so I aren't paying to do it at school as well.

If you are struggling only pay for the things you really need to and question the swimming

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KERALA1 · 09/09/2015 18:53

The people providing the extras not covered by the remit of state education need to be paid. Are you suggesting they teach your child an instrument for free?

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TenQuidProQuo · 09/09/2015 18:54

Just wait until she starts uni.

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NationalTrustLadyGardens · 09/09/2015 19:01

Have a read of the government's rules which schools are often very shy of publishing. You may well not have to pay any of the residential trip.

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ilovechristmas123 · 09/09/2015 19:03

so your saying you have to pay for music lessons they are on the timetable then which means every student in that year will have to pay

do all the children in their year have to pay arts and crafts material

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ilovechristmas123 · 09/09/2015 19:07

why are people on here including activities that are voluntary,they are just that

dont choose them if your going to winge about paying for them,the school isnt making your child do them

i understand the compulsive money asking and yes some schools do ask frequently but not something you choose as an extra

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Bunbaker · 09/09/2015 19:16

I would expect to pay for music lessons. DD did guitar at primary school, and it was an "extra". The guitar teacher wasn't employed by the school and needed paying. He was hardly going to give free tuition.

I would expect to pay for the residential as well as that is also an optional extra.

I don't think I had to pay for swimming lessons though, and that involved a 16 mile round trip by coach, but this was about 8 years ago when schools weren't so strapped for cash.

Art and craft materials should be free - they are taking the piss.

I used to be on the finance committee of a secondary school and, believe me, most schools are so underfunded these days. I get that it is tiresome to constantly receive requests to pay for things, but the schools simply don't have the resources to pay for extras these days.

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NationalTrustLadyGardens · 09/09/2015 19:20

Bit harsh Christmas, it doesn't sound to me like most of the activities OP mentions are extras - probably only the music lessons. Schools DO routinely take the piss - actually they break the law - and do not make it clear that contributions are voluntary. And whether someone considers the requested swimming money 'a bargain' is neither here nor there.

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OhYeahMama · 09/09/2015 19:22

We got asked for ??10 'toward materials for baking' when DD was in Reception. I paid it, , not knowing any better. Same request following term. I didn't pay - ??20 for baking for one child? Taking the piss. I didn't see so much as a fairy cake either.

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OhYeahMama · 09/09/2015 19:23

That should be ??10 and ??20!

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OhYeahMama · 09/09/2015 19:23

my pound signs don't work?!!

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