PTA Christmas party in school hours, only if you pay.

[Pickleandtomatoes]

AIBU? The PTA at my child’s school has decided to put on a Christmas party during the school day (probably an hour long or so). They get a drink, festive snack and gift, along with party games, but only if I pay £4.50 for this. I know we are not talking about a huge sum of money, but this is in school hours and if I don’t pay this, my child will be excluded from the event and sit in the classroom (possibly without any friends) and watch a Christmas film. The mental impact on my child of being excluded from the shared Christmas event is almost forcing my hand to have to pay. I have reached out to the school and had no response yet. AIBU to assume that they can’t do this? Thanks.

Does sound out of order, especially for pupil premium children.

I think this may come under the requirements not to exclude children from activities and it should be deemed a voluntary contribution. Others may be up to date on this.

The Head approved this!?!?

That's really unusual and not something I've encountered at any of the schools I've worked at. If the party is during school hours then it should be a voluntary contribution which if not paid wouldn't prevent your child from taking part. It seems very exclusionary for pupil premium children or children from low income families.

I’m surprised this is allowed. Normally I stick up for the PtA as it’s a thankless task but this is a terrible idea.

Its shit. Why not just have a party, no gift and kids can bring snacks in if they want to? Don't pay. There is no way they will exclude any children.

yanbu

at most Our PTA would ask for a “suggested contribution” for something like this.

but they never did this

At Christmas we have only ever had a request like “we sent home an empty paper plate in the book bag, if you can cover it in nut-free treats for our class party then thank you!”

Enough people would send a plate that there would be snacks for all.

They would take a toy to school too. Play, watch a film, and have a blast.

Eek that is way off! At our school this would be a suggested donation and all kids would get to go that wanted to (and actually we'd raise more money that was as some parents would pay more)

Our PTA also only asks for donations for during school time. We also tend not to link them too closely to religious celebrations so that everyone feels able to attend.

Have you asked all the other parents what their thoughts are on this?

It might be that the kid at the party is on their own, whilst everyone else happily watches a movie.

That is outrageous!Cannot believe the school have agreed to this .Speak too the head.
Are you sure they didn't just ask for voluntary donation?

I am horrified that any school would allow something so divisive and frankly hurtful to be done in school hours! To discriminate against children whose parents can’t afford to pay, and to make them watch their classmates go off for a party, whilst they are left in their classrooms, appals me.

Some parents may have more than one child in the school, and will have to find £9/£13.50, in the run up to Christmas.

I guess they can do it.

But I don't like it.

If they want to introduce costs to event then do an after school event e.g. disco so children don't feel the exclusion as deeply (like sitting in a class hearing noisy fun).

Our school does a Xmas party afternoon. The PTA buy a little gift for each child. Santa appears for the infant years (oddly enough the lovely caretaker is never seen or available when Santa appears).

It's drinks/crisps and biscuits type nibbles. A few wild games and home at endcof school day. Contributions from parents welcome for the nibbles. All pupils included.

Our in school time paid for events (not just PTA) always come with the stipulation of if you can't afford it please speak to the office.
Usually the PTA funds or other school fund cover the children who can't afford it.

Thankyou everyone. It it going ahead and definitely not a voluntary donation. I’m going to try the school again. Wish me luck.

Oh that is absolutely horrible. If that was my school and I could afford it I'd guilt them about it by messaging them to say if any kid comes in without the money you can send me the bill. Speaking from experience if you're going to be having a shit Christmas for whatever reason, those wee school parties can be the highlight of the whole holidays. That's really upset me. Why are people so bloody unthinking?

No not fine at all. Good luck OP

It sounds like a lovely thing for them to organise, and the cost sounds reasonable for what they are providing. The issue is they've perhaps not given thought to families who don't have spare cash at this time of year.

My dds school are doing a Santa dash today and they asked for donations in sealed envelopes without names on the front. They've also said not to worry if your child wants to hand in a sealed empty envelope (the child will probably assume there's a bank note in it). I thought this was a brilliant idea so that nobody has to feel any pressure and no child is excluded and their classmates won't notice if someone doesn't donate.

I do think it's fair to ask for donations from the parents that can afford and are happy to pay as the gifts and snacks can't be covered by school money

Honestly if the school thinks this is acceptable and don't adjust it to a voluntary donation it would have me questioning if this was the school I wanted my child attending. It's so far removed from any school I've worked at that I'd hate to imagine how uncaring the slt staff were and how the school runs day to day.

Not acceptable, I would be very interesting in hearing the head's response

Any chance of rallying a few other parents so that the paid-for event becomes a bit sparse?
Has the head been alerted to how insensitive this will look?
Which lucky teacher gets supervise the paupers while it all happens?
Edward Blishen, in his book "The Roaring Boys" described the school Christmas party as "Armageddon with jelly and trifle" and that without the added twist of social segregation.

A Christmas party during school time should be accessible to everyone. This is not on.

I’m normally on the side of the PTA but the Head should not be allowing this. As with school trips, payments must be voluntary only. It’s not fair on the children, whether parents can’t pay or won’t pay. The net result is the same. Especially at Christmas.

I'm on our PTA committee and I don't agree with this. The head should definitely not have agreed to this.

Do you object to school trips that happen in school hours and cost money? I'd put this in the same category. It sounds like it'll be fun for the kids. Will you genuinely struggle to pay or do you just object on principle?

Our school did a whole school Christmas outing that had a cost attached. The difference is they said to contact them if you had any difficulties paying and no one was excluded on that basis - I think PTA funds were used where needed. I think it's fine to do activities that cost a small amount of money. I don't think it's ok to exclude people who genuinely can't afford it though.