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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!!

OP posts:

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Osolea · 09/09/2015 19:26

The school aren't taking the piss, they're trying to provide you child with a varied and enriching curriculum. That benefits your child, not the teachers.

I understand that it can be hard to afford things sometimes, but your dd doesn't have to take part in the music lessons (which you unless you get a letter about, you have no need to pay just because it's appears on parent pay) or the residential trip if you don't want her to do it.

It's good that schools provide these opportunities, they are usually significantly cheaper than doing the same thing yourself and the dc get to do it with their friends.

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MaddyinaPaddy · 09/09/2015 19:34

If you can

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Loki17 · 09/09/2015 19:40

If all parents refused to pay we couldn't afford to take pupils on trips. The music lessons that are paid for are peripatetic lessons that are an optional addition to the once a week statutory lesson that is part of the curriculum. Trips are never tun for a profit. Residential rely on the goodwill of staff donating their time to accompany the pupils. Schools are competing to offer the best trips and enhanced curriculum because we need to get kids through the door. Most schools, including my own, are underfunded and we need to keep our kids to stay open.

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Lynnm63 · 09/09/2015 19:42

If you are in receipt of free school meals the school gets extra funding around ??700 per child I think. Id email or call the school to ask what they use those funds for and if they could be used to offset the cost of these trips.
IMO the poster who says the costs are reasonable is missing the point. ??13 might be reasonable but if you haven't got it it might as well be ??500.

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Lynnm63 · 09/09/2015 19:43

My pound sign isn't working so apologies for the question marks.

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IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 09/09/2015 19:57

Jeez

Sorry, but this turns everything else you've said into irrelevant cocktwodgeriness....

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Bunbaker · 09/09/2015 20:11

Pupil premium for primary school pupils is ??1320 per pupil. It is used simply to raise the attainment of the pupils who require it. Schools have to account for every penny spent.

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ilovechristmas123 · 09/09/2015 20:16

i dont understand the PP

my son would get it but has never had money etc taken of trips/activities etc,i dont mind paying the same as everybody else,no problem there

i thought it was just used for everybody,not a specific child

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arethereanyleftatall · 09/09/2015 20:21

The more people get for free, the more they want and expect.
Yabu.

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Loki17 · 09/09/2015 20:25

I love Christmas: you need to phone and speak to the head. If there is a trip thst would benefit your child but you can not afford it, the school can use pp money to cover it. In my school we have used pp money to cover trips, pay for music lessons, pay for adt supplies, connexions interviews etc. It is designed to level the playing field for all children. It is confidential too.

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ilovechristmas123 · 09/09/2015 20:27

thanks for the info

i manage ok to pay for him,it would be good if it could help another child to go that may not have the chance though

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Bogeyface · 09/09/2015 20:29

First day back yesterday ended with a letter needing ??13 for a trip next week and ??2 spending money.

Quickest request ever I think

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JanetBlyton · 09/09/2015 20:49

My boys didn't go on a residential trip last weekend. They cannot force you on to these things. Just say you cannot afford to pay.

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Imperialleather2 · 09/09/2015 20:57

At the local.school near here, which is in a very affluent part of town and looking at the stats gets pupil premium for 2 out of 360 kids, lots of parents chose to not pay the voluntary contributions
The school cancelled all trips as it couldn't afford them.and then the parents were moaning.

Unless you are skint I think you need to.accept it's just a cost of having children and is usually very good value for money.

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TheRogueBludger · 09/09/2015 21:01

??
?

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Bunbaker · 09/09/2015 21:07

"i thought it was just used for everybody,not a specific child"

Pupil Premium is for looked after children and those eligible for free school meals. It can only be spent on eligible pupils and not on other pupils.

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ilovechristmas123 · 09/09/2015 21:12

well to my knowledge my son is elegible for pp but hasnt been spent on him

eg no extra tuition,always paid for trips etc the same cost as non pp

so where does it go

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lifesalongsong · 09/09/2015 21:13

It's wrong to say that schools can't charge for swimming lessons, they certainly can. They might not be able to force you to pay but they can ask for payment.

PP money definitely can't be spent for a specific cost for a child who doesn't qualify but it can be spent on something that would benefit other children as a result of benefitting the children who do qualify.

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CookieMonsterIsOnADiet · 09/09/2015 21:16

Most primary schools spend pupil premium on TA support or interventions. They have to show it has improved the children's grades on FSMs which a trip simply wouldn't do.

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lifesalongsong · 09/09/2015 21:17

ilovechristmas - schools must make public how they spend the PP money, I think most are doing it by putting the info on their websites. If you don't find it there just ask them. I think someone above may have already said that Ofsted are very hot on making sure it's being spend properly.

They might say though that it goes on extra TAs who can support the PP children but of course can also work with other children in the class. IMO that's a bit of a cop out but I suspect it's a common justification

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ilovechristmas123 · 09/09/2015 21:18

thanks,i will take a look on their website

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shutupanddance · 09/09/2015 21:19

We had a request for ??15 to be paid for a school trip by this time next week. at least give notice if its more than a pound or two.

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CocktailQueen · 09/09/2015 21:23

Love Christmas - you say your DS is legible for pp but does he receive it? Has the school applied for it for him specifically? Could you ask the teacher about it?

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CocktailQueen · 09/09/2015 21:26

Op, all your costs seem reasonable except art and craft materials - if your dc play an instrument then presumably you know the cost, ditto a residential, which is optional.

No idea why you have to pay for swimming but presumably you have to pay the council to use the pool?

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lifesalongsong · 09/09/2015 21:28

I'd be very surprised if a school didn't apply for PP once a parent has filled in the form confirming they are eligible. It's money for nothing and they would be a very poor school if they were sitting on the forms but obviously worth checking

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