to be annoyed at this school policy?

[Peachy]

School play this year will be charging for tickets, £2.
And absolutely no siblings to free ups eats,even if they are on your lap.

Which means I cannot go, as I have no body to help and DH will be in an exam.

I therefore have two very upset children. DS1 is only doing the PC but still wants me there.

Seems they prefer to let famillies of 6 (2 parents, 4 grandparents- and there will be many like that, always is) in rather than help out the parent who has nobody to help.

I am the only aprent in the year group at least who regularly goes in and reads with the class,they want me to pay for a father Chriostmas costume to be worn by ds2 for 2 minutes as he walks across stage, but....

Dunno, maybe I am being unreasonable- but boys upset- but they know our circs (no family within 50 miles,low income as carer so not able to hire childminder) so if I am prepared to help them with the reading can they not just let me have ds4 on my lap as usual (and I always leave if he whinges)? Is that so much to ask?

YANBU I honestly wonder what goes through some of these schools heads.
Both schools dd has been at it is 2 tickets per family and no problem with younger siblings on laps.

That's mean, I would be in a similar situation if my school had the same policy! Our school run a creche for pre school children for the Xmas plays.

I can understand giving out tickets, but not them charging. And you presumably won't be the only parent with other children penalised? Have you spoken to your child's teacher? What do other parents think about it?

YANBU.

Is HT at all sympathetic/approachable? Might it be worth explaining your circumstances?

I don't think you are being unreasonable, and I would raise it with the school and see if they'll change their mind.

HT is new and hides in her office,Is aw her briefly this morning but peeking from behind a door.

She said in the letter it is financial;I did speak to Secretary (teahers hard to come by at the school) and she said nope, he can't come.

It might affect a fewpeople but tbh it's a village where most peoplewould ahve a lot of friends etc to help out and most people are able to pay for childcare, we've had a bit if bad luck this year though socan't, and having 2 kids with Sn has limited our chances to build social netwroks.

Am more disappointed than angry I guess, seems a shame.

Are they hiring a village hall or similar and trying to cover the costs?
I would buy a ticket in advance and then turn up on the day with your LO

As your DH isnt going then surely your DS can have his 'place'. Have you already told them DH cant go ? I would buy two tickets anyway or would they ban your DC from going in ?

Surely siblings come before GP's

its no kidsatvall

they make cash fromselling the DVD so wonder if there has been issues with noisy toddlers?

School hall

yanbu, nice to see the spirit of xmas is alive and kicking in your part of the world eh.

Can you get a few more to complain, or maybe complain to the governors? I think its a dreadful policy.

I think that making you pay to watch your children's school play is a bit mean - selling overpriced refreshments and raffle tickets for a range of tat is surely the normal way of making some extra on the side

oh Peachy. I am for you. I know what its like to be isolated from family and not feel you have anyone close by to help you out in such circumstances.

Your HT sounds like ours. She is also new and prone to hiding until certain all parents have left the premises

TBH, I would still pursue this with academic staff rather than the secretary. If she is anything like ours, she is law unto herself (takes it upon herself to dictate school policy when generally academic staff quite reasonable and open to discussion!)

I wouldn't mind paying for the tickets as as for your LO I'd do as madamearcati suggests.

I think she would stop me going in tbh

The time since her start in September has been odd- blankets letters telling us school can't subsidise anything at all (none of this poorkids geting helpwith tripsalrk now, not that we ever asked)

No thank you for helping out-old Head used to come check I was OK sometimes

A letter sent out cojntaining a report including a comment 'Perhaps the new Head can think of someone else to do this inspection (RE inspection, for funding) next year, or alternatively slip hemlock in my drink' (WTF?)

I think they'retrying to return to the elitism they had 5 years ago, when SN kids weren't admnitted and it ahd a repfor being the best school formiles- thesedays they cant ewven fill the places and- horror- there are kids with statements

You really need to speak to the HT and explain your situation or of that is impossible write or email.If you are in a village I am sure another parent would help you out, you just need to be cheeky enough to ask.
Do you know any Parent Governors you could talk to and get them to speak to the head ?

If their is really no way you can get to the performance perhaps you could ask to come with your LO to the dress rehearsal

I will talk to DS1's TA (other teacher hides upsteairs, I have buggy etc etc...)

last time I tried though I got acomment about @What would I know, I only work here' (thatwas about a blanket ban on parents from the playground at sropoff-after all they re Juniors- which I choseto ignore becuase of ds1's SN but couldn;t get official override on)

I think DS4 may be going elsewhere you know, ironic really as touch wood he actually seems by far the brightest of the bunch LOL

It says Grandparents only at the dress rehearsal,thsoe who cannot attend can buy a DVD for £12.

I will email and ask whether I can attend as well,explain, but would I BU to say stuff helping out if they say no?

is the school allowed to say it won't subsidise anything at all?

I thought schools were not allowed to exclude children who were unable to pay a contribution towards school trips etc (altho I also believe they have the right to cancel if not enough children are able to make a contribution).

Have they explained the reason for the charge this year? (eg to fund new costumes?) It is absolute nonsense to not allow younger siblings to attend. It isn't the school christmas play without at least one toddler making a fuss .

I'm a teacher and in a way can kind of understand where the school is coming from. I've watched children work so hard on their production only for it to be ruined by screaming siblings in the audience. However, if I was aware that a parent of a child in my class was in your position I'd approach my HT to see if we could make an exception so I'd advise you speak to the Class Teacher first.

Only say stuff it to helping out if you won't miss it too much. You're doing it for the pupils - not the school. Definitely worth having a word with your class teacher to see if she can help at all, and the Head. Seems very unfair. A DVD is OK if you can't make it, but when you're virtually banned, it's not

Why GPs only? And surely paying £12 to watch a show you would have only paid £2 to see is madness? They are usually badly filmed and totally lacking in atmosphere.

I really hope you get to go, Peachy.

It doesn't sound as though you get much in the way of recognition for helping out. Perhaps you need to consider whether to continue with that separately though?

Our infants school runs a little creche for siblings.
Talk to the school they may be able to help you, they dont want the children or parents upset.

My son was a father xmas (one of 4) in a play I got the suits from £1 shop.

tuklpeAFAIK the not enough to run trips issue is not the problem,as there are currenlty zero kids on free school meals. That doesn't mean no low incomes (people on CTC/ WTC or HB don't qualify, only those on IS) but can't be very many proportionally.

I get the svcreaming kids thing, but always leave if I have to. It'snot for costumes either,already have a wishlist for that.

They say they are under financial pressure as they spent 1/3 of their (IIRC) £45k surplus fund last year, which must be worrying but if they had a better rep the school would fill its palces and even they dtate that as the main cause. As it is, school is regarded as being nuts (we are in catchment area so are choice limited,most places are relaint on kids choosing to commute over).

She even got the INfants HT name very wrong in the letter.