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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I don't think I am but here goes

312 replies

TheLadyEvenstar · 07/01/2009 22:29

DS1 has opportunity to go on a school journey. I was in 2 minds about letting him go mainly because there is going to be 6 chalets each with 5 children in and 1 chalet with 4 members of staff in.

Now it comes out that the price which is £350 does not apply to the 3 sets of twins in the class they have to pay £350 for the 2 rather than £700.

DS1 really wants to go so i have said to him IF the twins are both going and only paying for one then I will be telling the school that I will pay half the price as what is good for 1 (or in this case 6 with it being 3 sets of twins) is good for all.

Am I being unreasonable to expect the price to be the same for all???

OP posts:
Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 07/01/2009 22:57

Bluejelly she is paying £350 for both not each thats what has annoyed me!

and the same with the other 2 sets of twins £350 for both not each;

OP posts:
J2O · 07/01/2009 22:58

YANBU
£350 is way too much for 5 days imo. How many are not going to be going?

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 07/01/2009 22:58

Dirty, no they are both working one is a solicitors receptionist
and the other mum is on mat leave after havin a baby about 4 m ago.

OP posts:
2shoesisareject · 07/01/2009 22:59

TheLadyEvenstar I do know what you mena. dd goes to an sn school, when they went on a 5 day trip(no overnights) I struggled to pay and did it in installments, I was rteally pissed of to be told by another mother that she didn't pay and her child still went.....guess who didn't pay the next year.

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 07/01/2009 22:59

Dirty, the mums do. its what she charges and i guess when you have no other option you have to.

OP posts:
KingHerodNametaken · 07/01/2009 23:00

You want to teachers to pay full whack too?

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 07/01/2009 23:00

J20 no idea but it seems there are just a few who won't be. I know many have paid in installments.

OP posts:
Candlewax · 07/01/2009 23:01

Just as a side line... School staff do not have to pay. The amount parents pay includes a contribution towards the staff.

How do you know so much about the twins' mother TLE?

MillyR · 07/01/2009 23:01

According to my maths calculation, if all the twins paid for themselves then it would be £315 per child rather than £350.

So I think YANBU but my maths may be rubbish.

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 07/01/2009 23:01

King don't you think they should pay something? rather than the childrens fees being so high?

OP posts:
mazzystartled · 07/01/2009 23:02

i think you have to accept cost of trip is cost of trip

subsidy for twins probably comes from separate budget, and not from the rest of you having a whip round as it were

if twins unable to go because of cost school would probably have to spend same/more on supply cover to teach them whilst others away.

terrifyingly expensive though.

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 07/01/2009 23:03

Candle, the children were good friends and she is free with info about herself. She is not a bad person as such but when it comes to standing bragging about paying for one and then in next breath talking about how much you bring in every week...........

OP posts:
KingHerodNametaken · 07/01/2009 23:03

Um, the teachers don't go to get a holiday - they're working

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 07/01/2009 23:04

if twins unable to go because of cost school would probably have to spend same/more on supply cover to teach them whilst others away.

Hmmm so if my ds can't go because of the price then they will have to fork out the same for a supply/cover

OP posts:
KingHerodNametaken · 07/01/2009 23:05

OP - are you planning on ever getting pregnant again? If so, I hope you bloody well have quads.

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 07/01/2009 23:05

King I am aware of that but they already get their wages, why should parents have to contribute to the teachers going? the school should do that. and I would love to know exactly what it really costs as £350 seems very steep

OP posts:
Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 07/01/2009 23:06

LMAO King make it sextuplets please!!!!

OP posts:
bluejelly · 07/01/2009 23:07

What i meant was that the total cost for the twin mums was 350 per family, same as for your family. Yes they are getting two children on the trip but they are out of pocket exactly the same amount as you.

So it's the same cost.

EBenes · 07/01/2009 23:07

I would guess the school couldn't afford to let anyone go if they all paid the lower rate. They've subsidised the twins because presumably in the past most twins haven't been able to go because their parents just couldn't afford to send two in one year (even though in the end all people with more than one kid of any age will lose out altogether) and it seemed to penalise twins, who would have felt left out, always being the ones unable to go.

Schools always want to include as many pupils as they can, and this seems like a subsidy that's easy to enforce/maintain because 1) there will be few twins each year, the number is containable and 2) it's a fairly inflexible exception, there wont be people who are on the edge of qualifying for it, it's either twin or not twin. And no single twin will be able to go without their sibling for the discounted price.

So... (after that ramble) I agree with the people who say 'have a heart'. The school is just trying to be kind.

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 07/01/2009 23:08

No they are blue they are sending 2 children for the price of 1 child whereas It could be turned that I am paying the price of 2 children for 1 child to go

OP posts:
Candlewax · 07/01/2009 23:08

I think you may find that one twin is paid out for from a special budget that the school hold for incidences like this. My ds has SN and I was told that he could only go on the trip if I went too. They did not expect me to pay for myself, only for him. The school's budget paid for me.

What I am trying to say is that the cost for the trip would have been set and the cost of the additional twin would not have been calculated in.

I went with my DS to the IOW for a week and the price they are quoting you sounds about right to be honest.

Original poster
TheLadyEvenstar · 07/01/2009 23:09

meant aren't not are

OP posts:
thumbwitch · 07/01/2009 23:10

I can see your point but I think there should be some level of reduction in price for twins (mind you, there wasn't when my bro and sis were at school, but they were always in different classes so maybe that's why) - but one full price and one half price would be fairer than BOGOF (as it were).

MillyR · 07/01/2009 23:12

It does sound plausible that there may be an extra budget given to the school that can only be used for the twins.

I think £350 is too much. Does your child really want to go? There are loads of really good things that your whole family could do together for £350.

mazzystartled · 07/01/2009 23:12

true - but they are probably twice as likely not to afford it

the staff will more than earn their wages and definitely shouldn't have to pay though - they will be in loco parentis round the clock

is it a term time trip?

the onus is on the school to make it affordable. can you talk to them about it?

surely the cost will be worked out per person and school pay to subsidise the twins [and maybe people on low incomes or whatever] rather than cost of free twins added to other families. can't believe anyone would- could afford go along with that.

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