Is this a normal amount of requests from the school - its non stop!

[SchoolRequests]

Dc started reception just over 5 weeks ago and already had

• An ongoing weekly donation request
• Request to buy waterproofs (with 5 days notice of when needed)
• Non uniform day plus donation
• Harvest festival donation
• School photos
• Request to go through books with no words on a night and write in communication dairy on a daily / weekly basic
• Harvest bag to fill with leaves and pinecones
• Panto trip in december to pay for

I'm dreading opening his school bag to find more letters requesting things. It is just constant requests for time and money. Is this a normal amount? Do schools think parents have lots of free time and money to get stuff with little notice constantly and don't have work or other children to look after?

What is it like at your kids school?

This sounds bloody awful. What do people do if they're really struggling financially?

I spoke to a client yesterday who's got 2 kids and is really struggling. She's benefit capped, so gets £1,600 a month UC, and her rent is £1,300. What's left barely covers her bills, let alone buys food and all the other shite that schools want parents to stump up for.

(She's too ill to work, in case anyone wonders why she doesn't get a job.)

Things like photos aren't compulsory and in regards to transport for trips, schools don't have the money to pay for everyone but it's not fair that everyone should miss out because a few can't or often won't contribute