To suspect nursery is using our financial info to determine fete contributions?

[Tryintohelp]

DD's nursery is asking for contributions to the fete again. Unlike every other setting/school we know, they ask for specific items... and some of these contributions are quite expensive, definitely beyond the reach of some parents.

The plot thickens as it turns out that different parents get asked to contribute different things, although it says in the email that it's voluntary. A few of us parents wondered if the nursery is using our status vis-a-vis free (income-based) nursery hours to determine whether we get asked to contribute expensive items, or cheaper.

We don't have a flashy lifestyle, so without income knowledge I really doubt they'd think we had the cash. Given our circumstances we are absolutely happy to contribute more, but we are a bit miffed by how our personal financial info might be being used.

Anyone know of anywhere else that asks for specifics, and how do they decide who to ask for what?

It sounds very possible and not at all ethical. They should write a list of items they need and allow parents to choose which, if any they want to contribute and then tick off on the list.

Maybe they are assessing income by, for example, whether your dc is wearing Startright sandals or Boden dresses?

Never heard of being asked for specifics, that’s awful! Talk about putting someone on the spot. How the hell do they know what your outgoings are even if they have an inkling of your income?

What’s the range of stuff they’re asking for?

Luxury food and drink items.

I'm not actually convinced the raffle economics works out as the donated items must cost many times the income from the raffle tickets. Suppose it's a bit of fun though.

Everywhere else we know allows you to contribute whatever you want, or has a list with various items, from cheap to more expensive, and you tick them off.

Like the idea they're keeping a file on our clothing choices, though there's plenty of Boden etc in the charity shops round here, so it's not infallible.

"Put the Jones's down for the Bollinger, Rosie, little Arthur came in Start-rite sandals and a White Company t-shirt today. And you'd better downgrade the Smith's to a bottle of lambrusco. Willy's wearing Asda nappies again."

It’s beyond weird!

I’ve never even heard of a nursery that runs a fete!

Yes private nurseries often use income information to ‘tailor’ their begging emails. It’s all voluntary.

Isn’t it more likely that they know who has a lower income (being eligible for two year old funding previously) and so are attempting to be sensitive to that, rather than specifically targeting wealthy parents?

Appearances and disposable income could be way off.

Is the parent in the flash car who lives in a big house on the right road loaded, or do they never have any spare cash because they have a huge mortgage and payments for the car?

Is that slightly scruffy mother with no make up who cycles in poor or is she a bit lentil weavery and quite wealthy because she spends almost nothing on keeping up with the Jones's?

Giving a guide and letting people choose what, if anything to contribute is the fairest way. I know the economics don't always stack up, but if you can donate that box of biscuits or bottle of wine that you won in the last raffle and didn't really want that's been hanging round for a while, you've made a donation without spending any money.

Due to age ranges involved, not sure they would know about 2 yr old funding. And given the vast other expenses at this time of year, holidays, childcare, fetes, teacher presents, I think it wouldn't just be the parents on benefits who would balk at the cost.

DuchyDuke have you seen that happen? What financial info do they base their targeting on?

We're the scruffy sort, hence our suspicion that they're targeting based on financial info submitted, rather than our clothes, car, house.

What financial info of yours do they have (out of curiosity) ? They hardly have salary information do they ?

GDPR? If they hold data on your finances they should not be using this to get large donations from you. Huge fines if Information Commissioner takes action.

That is awful. Though my very wealthy BIL and SIL dress their boy in ASda and supermarket stuff, as well as Boden.

It sounds as though they are assuming they know your circumstances. How they think they can judge is beyond me.
What would the effect be if you don't go to the fete or contribute to the fete?
It is not right to ask parents etc for a specific item.

Even asking people to tick off an item on a list of stuff to contribute is cheeky.
I wouldn't bother with all this rubbish, there's years of it ahead, free yourself now.

I'd second GDPR. They are using info they are privy to (entitlement to free hours) to make a determination on a persons financial situation. Unless express permission is given for this use, its probably a breach.

It's voluntary, but I really don't mind contributing, and am happy to contribute at a higher amount. I just don't want someone assessing our situation and making that decision for me. Some of the other parents felt it was a bit cheeky too. And I did wonder about GDPR, having sat through a number of seminars.

The financial info they certainly have is the knowledge of whether one of you earns >£100k, because that means you aren't eligible for the 30 hours free childcare (just the first fifteen hours). They have to check that a few times a year.

As many have said, clothes, cars etc aren't a reliable indicator. But the financial info above is, though of course they still don't know your outgoings.

My daughter's school did this for every single class party. Instead of crisps or biscuits or something relatively inexpensive we would always be asked to bring in pricey food like cheese cubes or Christmas cake. We would get a list with a tick box so we could clearly see the options.

It was really difficult as although we didnt get free school meals we had no spare cash so I'd end up bringing something we could afford and felt awful. The last straw was them asking for a bottle of spirits for a raffle - we hadn't drunk in ages due to the cost. It was a kick in the teeth tbh but obviously they assumed we were fine money wise as the teacher got really shirty when I told them we couldnt. I used to dread letters home in the end!

I’d just ask them how they decide who they want to buy what - their reaction to the question will tell you if there’s any element of assessing what they think you can afford.

That's awful bellanotte, they shouldn't be making assumptions about income and expenditure, and they shouldn't be putting people into awkward positions. It's embarrassing.

Why is a nursery having a fete? What are they raising money for?

I’m a childminder and could roughly guess tax bands of the families I look after in a couple of ways. If they can claim the free 30 hours, if they claimed two year funding, if the family pay in tax free childcare. If you pay me via tax credits. Obviously if you don’t pay tax, you don’t pay me anything via tax free childcare, if you pay £243 you are a basic rate tax payer and if you pay £110 (I think it’s that amount) you are a higher rate tax payer (I have no idea how much you earn to pay that though). So yes it is possible for a childcare provider to have a very rough idea of your family income without looking at what clothes your dc is wearing.

Disclaimer: I’ve only added this info the thread as a pp asked how they would know this information-they don’t know, but have guessed based on the above. And yes, I do think they are VERY cheeky to have based their request on income. A sign up sheet would be quite adequate I think.

Tricky one... I agree that they should not be using this information to ask for specific donations.

And yes, it is difficult when the raffle doesn't make any more cash than the cost of the items that have been purchased as donations to the raffle.

Is it a state funded and not private nursery? Do you know what they are fundraising for and do you approve? Are you in a position to help with fundraising in anyway? Do you agree or disagree with the principle that those who are less well off, should donate in proportion to their means?

As someone who had been involved in fundraising for years, it is so difficult to ask for donations in what ever form that request comes..... If you think you could help in this, I would suggest you do.

Having said all of that... and I completely get your point... your income does put you in the top 1% of the population. ... it is more difficult for the remaining 99% to find a tenner for a bottle of Aldi champagne.

This is a nursery as business, not state funded? Very cheeky all round - what are they doing to do with the cash they raise?

Maybe they are assessing income by, for example, whether your dc is wearing Startright sandals or Boden dresses?

Most of Ds3's clothes are Boden, Gap, fat face etc as my sister and best friend, both considerably better off than us, have boys slightly older than ds. However we get free school meals so the school know not to ask for anything too expensive.