To think that if a school trip has a due date for money to be paid by, that the school shouldn't hassle them for it before then ?

[NuttyMuffins]

Dd1 had a letter last week I think about a trip to Severn Valley. The trip is £7 and the amount is due on Friday 22nd June. Trip takes place on 28th June.

2 days after the letter was given out Dd1 said that someone from the office came into their classroom and read out a list of people who had not yet paid, and said 'you must hand this in as soon as possible'.

I was not impressed.

Today dd said they did it again, and that her teacher was having a go at them for not handing the money in yet.

FGS it's not due yet, and not eveyone can just magic £7 out of no where, why do they not realise this.

I hate this. The last time this happened I underlined the date when I sent the letter back with the comment ' I take it this date was incorrect then!'. School got the point.

Could only do it because dd is now in Y6 BTW, wouldn't have done it when she was younger as she would have been too embarrassed.

Ohh I think I might do that Berries as this has happened with previous trips too.

What is the point of putting the date on the letter? I would hand it in by close of school on the last possible day. Makes me mad.

Oh I am Noodle, have already told Dd that i will give it to her on Thursday now and tbh thats not just to make a point, I don't have the money until wednesday.

Unfortunatly the school have a habit of thinking that as it's in a fairly well off area, that all of the parents can pay stuff easily and I can't. However I always give them their trip money by the due date if not sooner.

i hate that

dd once was asked for a voluntary contribution of £3.00 towards something, i could afford it that week, and teacher kept calling out the 2 that hadnt taken it,

dd then took it in from her money box

i was not impressed so went into school saying how dare they make me dd feel this way, - this is something i never do but when it affects my dd something inside me just goes...

if it isnt due yet they should not be asking for it yet,

Oh thats not on Snowwonder, although tbh the bit about it being voluntary doesn't actually even seem to apply at our school, as you still get chased for it.

I do always pay as I am lucky that the kids grandparents will help out with trips from time to time, especially as they seem to get more costly the further up the school they go.

It's like the sponsorship for stuff and everything - the assumption that you have piles of cash washing around and even if you did that you would want to spend it on whatever they dictate. It's really wrong to use the emotions of DC.

Is there anything else to go back or is it just the cash? I can imagine that ours would be keen to know numbers or get permission slips sorted out, so it there is a slip as well then I would send that back and add a line to it to say payment will be made by Friday as requested.

Yeah there is a slip attatched too, but the letter actually states 'please return slip and payment by 22nd june'.

When I was working in a college we chased before the due date, otherwise come the due date people had 'forgotten' the money and asked for an extension, which wouldn't always be possible as we needed to know numbers in advance and pay out non refundable money in advance.
We also had weekly payment options so people on tight budgets could show willing and we would know they were committed by a certain amount.
I hated chasing for money, but if we waited to chase until the due date then many wouldn't have gone on the trips.

Technically a state school can not charge for an outing that is in school time. All they can do is ask for donations. Admitally if there aren't enough donations then a trip can't go ahead.

If you are really struggling to pay (ie single parent, low income) then its worth contacting the school and telling them the situation. They should be able to help

Really frances? SOunds odd

I don't mind paying, just mind that they hassle the kids for the money before the due date. Reminding them of the due date I would be fine with, but not hassleing them.

I get a bit annoyed with that too, nutty. Don't know why they put such a late date on it if they want the cash so soon.

as far as i know that is right they cant force you it to paying it is voluntary contribution, if in scholl time

That's inexcusable. I'd make a fuss, actually, personally I'd make a big fuss, but I appreciate not everyone had my childhood.