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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School requesting £80+ for school trips before Christmas!

28 replies

flowerfairy · 18/09/2018 20:04

DD is Y3 and yesterday brought home 2 letters about school trips. One is for a theatre trip the whole school goes on in January which is £14, but has to be paid in full by mid December. Y3 also do a 1 night residential at local outdoor ed centre, at the cost of £67, which is at the start of December, so will need to be paid for in full before this date. This letter also includes the classic line "Unfortunately if there are insufficient numbers then the trip may not go ahead which would be a great shame."

I understand the reason for the high cost of school trips (insurance/coaches/etc). But AIBU to think that the school is asking for over £80 in the lead up to Christmas is a bit much? Whilst I am not on the breadline, nor entitled to Pupil premium, this amount of money will affect the amount that I have towards Christmas presents, etc.

DD is desperate to go and I know how left out you can feel if you are the only one who doesn't go ( I was that child).

Opinions please.

OP posts:
totallyliterally · 18/09/2018 20:08

The school should offer a payment scheme in the run up to the trip. Yes it is still all
Money before.

And if your child really wants to go then it will be an amazing experience. And I would take it from their Christmas money, as quite often a pile of presents will be forgotten but a trip won't.

Wolfiefan · 18/09/2018 20:11

It’s still September. Christmas is months away.

HelenaDove · 18/09/2018 20:13

"Unfortunately if there are insufficient numbers then the trip may not go ahead which would be a great shame."

So the couple of kids whose parents just cant afford it could end up being guilt tripped and blamed by the rest of the class.

Lovely Hmm

PermanentlyFrizzyHairBall · 18/09/2018 20:15

I'm surprised they're doing a residential in Y3. My eldest is in Y2 and it's still quite common for kids not to be ready for sleepovers or to abort them at 11pm when they're suddenly home sick.

That said at least they've given you lots of notice so you could always put away a bit now if DS wants to go.

Homemadearmy · 18/09/2018 20:18

It’s a shame they didn’t give you more notice, if they sent letters out before the holidays it would have given parents more time.

Shoite · 18/09/2018 20:18

Ds school is similar.

£20 up front to cover costs of up to 6 local trips. Museums, local beaches, country parks etc. Due this Friday.

£20 deposit due this Friday for an overnight trip in March. Total cost £60

Overall I think the cost is very reasonable and the trips are varied and regular, but it’s very difficult to pay £40 in the second week back at school after the cost of uniform.

Our school also state the £20 for 6 trips is optional/a contribution. It’s common knowledge some people don’t pay while others do. I’d much rather pay as you go than have a larger pull out in September

Original poster
flowerfairy · 18/09/2018 20:22

My thoughts exactly Helenadove

OP posts:
Bellabutterfly2016 · 18/09/2018 20:22

Having worked in a school office and been responsible for booking trips, the thing is places and coach firms need payments up front. That's the issue.

It's hard in the run up to Christmas, but to be fair kids have only been back a week and if you'd had the letter before the summer holidays asking for depos

ShawshanksRedemption · 18/09/2018 20:23

@Helenadove So the couple of kids whose parents just cant afford it could end up being guilt tripped and blamed by the rest of the class.

That's not how it works; there needs to be enough uptake to make the event viable. The venue could say for example they will only do the event for 24+ kids. Most schools are very aware of the ability of some parents with regards to paying for trips and will be able to help on a discretionary basis - a chat with the Head usually sorts this out. There can be payment options where the cost is spread rather than a lump sum, and in some cases a hardship fund which will pay towards (or even full) cost for those families that just can't afford it.

For my kids, we have explained that in some cases if they want to do X, Y or Z event, they will have to do without elsewhere (eg less birthday/Xmas presents).

Bellabutterfly2016 · 18/09/2018 20:25

Sorry that sent before I'd finished!

Asking before holidays isn't great either as people have the expense of entertaining their kids for 6-7 weeks so it's never a good time to ask.

Then there's the Halloween party/ disco's, the xmas party, end of term bowling/cinema, Christmas Fayre! The list goes on!!!!

Original poster
flowerfairy · 18/09/2018 20:25

The school uses parentpay so I guess you can make contributions weekly/monthly. There is a £20 non-refundable deposit for the residential which I am not going to pay yet, though.

Totallyliterally had thought this might be a way round it.

OP posts:
ShawshanksRedemption · 18/09/2018 20:28

For educational trips the school can only request payment as a contribution, but school budgets are very tight, and if there isn't enough money, the trip can't run.

Of course the other option is that school trips just don't happen at all, but that's a bit sad for the kids.

PattiStanger · 18/09/2018 20:29

It's going to work out at around a £10er a week - is that do-able for you?

Tbh it doesn't sound too bad too me, my dcs schools have done much worse before, have you asked about a longer payment period?

Original poster
flowerfairy · 18/09/2018 20:29

Agree there never is a good time to ask. The trip was mentioned before the summer hols with an approximate cost but agree with Bellabutterfly.

I suppose I'd also forgotten about the theatre trip as well, so was a bit Shock to get the two letters yesterday asking for the money.

OP posts:
kaytee87 · 18/09/2018 20:32

Is September the run up to Christmas though? You've also said a rough cost was mentioned in the summer?

If you can't afford it then fair enough but the school have given ample warning and it's not the run up to Christmas...

Temporaryanonymity · 18/09/2018 20:36

Last year I was given two paydays notice of a residential costing just over £200,

Our school runs a residential for every KS2 class (two in year 6!) and now I know this I have been saving. With two sons in the school, together with the ad hoc trips here and there, I am saving around £80 per month.

Badhairday77 · 18/09/2018 20:40

67 for an overnight is great value. I have just paid 50 quid for a theatre trip.

Snappedandfarted2018 · 18/09/2018 20:41

Be thankful your child gets the experience my ds whos Y6 has never been on a residential trip as the school just don’t do them.

m0therofdragons · 18/09/2018 20:43

We had a £315 bill for a residential paid monthly from October at £75 a month last year.

Is it the first year your school has done a residential? We knew from previous years so had expected it.

RedSkyLastNight · 18/09/2018 20:46

I dislike short notice for trips, but 3 months notice is not bad, and it sound like these are regular events so you would have known they were coming even if you didn't know how much?

Our school will let you pay by installments or however much you can; is this an option?

LadyRenoir · 18/09/2018 20:52

@HelenaDove
I work in a school and it is a standard line we HAVE to put in. Schools have not money to cover for all children, and no one is guilt tripping anyone at all. Trips cost money and if people don;t pay, you can't organise them. It's simple truth. It may be people dont opt for it and the trip is not popular, and the school can't afford to pay for all the necessary things, and this is what the statement is all about. Nothing more or less.

Original poster
flowerfairy · 18/09/2018 20:52

Summer holidays were spent paying for 2 school uniforms and our family holiday!

School also run a Y6 residential. When my DS went in 2014 it was £160 for 4 nights, so I dread to think what it will be by the time DD is in Y6!

I just get a bit cross when schools demand you pay for their uniforms and then all the little extra bits they ask for and then you feel like a totally crap parent if you don't pay for these extras!

OP posts:
BlackBeltInChildWrangling · 18/09/2018 20:55

I think that's quite good value and that these trips are usually worthwhile for our DCs. I think as parents we need to do what we can to support school giving our DCs these opportunities. Families who genuinely can't afford them should be helped, (as with Pupil Premium assistance), and the rest of us given as much notice as possible and the opportunity of an installment scheme. Personally OP, I'd rather spend a bit less on Christmas presents. These trips often broaden our DCs horizons, support their education, and encourage a sense of community and growing independence. What's not to like?

Dermymc · 18/09/2018 20:56

You were warned before the summer and now you're claiming September is the lead up to Christmas.
Seems like you need to learn to save.

Firsttimer1234 · 18/09/2018 20:57

I'm a teacher and I used to work in a school where children went o. A residential in Year 3, 4, 5 and then 6! Each year would increase in length of stay. It was awful for parents who had multiple children in Year group. At the school I work now, children o ly go in Year 6 and its booked a year in advance so they start paying it off from the middle of year 5

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