Primary school asking for voluntary donation

[HoppingKangaroo]

My dc just started in reception class. Got a letter about a voluntary donation for reception class fund for £1 a week to be sent in with child weekly or termly. How common is this? Do most parents pay? And will there be more things to pay for on top of this - non uniform days, raffle tickets, trips or school christmas play etc? Just wondering how much everything could cost overall for the year.

[mycatisannoying]

To be honest, it amazes me that schools didn't start doing this years ago.
The meat really has been stripped off the bone as far as funding goes.

[downtonupton]

DS is now 15 - we were asked for a donation of £1 a week when he was in Reception and the rest of KS1