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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be annoyed at DD's school for giving free trips to free school meals while I pay a packet?

95 replies

justgavebirth · 08/03/2010 21:06

Kids were invited ice-skating and school subsidised children AND adults who are getting free school meals. Of course DD wanted to go and I had to pay £20. Couldn't take my other children because an adult had to accompany each child and I could not afford it.

Two more letters tonight that DD would love to go to but I have had to say no and upset DD. One is for £15 per person (adult must accompany child) and one is for £6.50 per person (adult must accompany child)

If I got free school meals I could take the whole family out on a trip!

Stupid scheme, why can they not just reduce the price for everyone!

OP posts:

motherlovebone · 08/03/2010 21:11

Whoamireally · 08/03/2010 21:11

YANBU. I'd be fuming too. However, if the school is subsidising the trip out their funds, then that seems to me to be reasonable - I am guessing that the families qualifying for free meals can never afford to send their kids, where at least you can some of the time.

If they are charging you whatever price, and then using part of those funds to subsidise the families on poorer incomes, then that isn't fair.

SoupDragon · 08/03/2010 21:13

Oh yes, lets make sure that those on incomes low enough to warrant free school meals can't go on trips.

Get over yourself.

dreamingofsun · 08/03/2010 21:13

justgave - my older son is always moaning about his mates who get £30 a week to stay on after 16- he gets 5 pocket money as thats all we can afford. we also have to pay bus fares - unlike his mates- even if they go to the local school. And then of course he will leave college with massive debts whilst his mates will get some grant.

ice-skating hardly seems essential or educational - so not sure why it has to be subsidised

it does make you wonder sometimes why you bother going to work. its also sending out mixed messages to the kids - ie don't bother working and the gov will provide

SoupDragon · 08/03/2010 21:14

The school can not insist on payment, the cost of school trips is (technically) voluntary. Obviously if too many refuse to pay, the trip will be cancelled though.

foxinsocks · 08/03/2010 21:15

nah seems fine to me

can't you get another adult to cover her if that's the problem?

they go on a lot of trips at your school

ShinyAndNew · 08/03/2010 21:15

YABVU.

I can't be bothered to go into why. There are too many of these threads lately.

GlastonburyGoddess · 08/03/2010 21:16

£20 seems alot for ice skating. maybe offer to deliver dd at the rink and pay the entrance price yourself-presuming this is cheaper than £20. It does sound like the price you are paying could well be subsidising those who cannot, but this isnt fair imo. Schools should use moneys raised(eg fetes, cakes sales, mufti) to subsidise the others, not inflate the price everyone has to pay to cover it.YANBU

SoupDragon · 08/03/2010 21:16

"it does make you wonder sometimes why you bother going to work"

So, give up work and see how much fun it is being on benefits.

LaDiDaDi · 08/03/2010 21:17

Think the issue is with the nature of the trips tbh. Why does there always have to be an accompanying adult?

SpringHeeledJack · 08/03/2010 21:17

this is very unusual ime

At our school, there has been a big influx of rich middle class families over the last 5 odd years

the result? more and more expensive residential trips, music lessons and after school clubs etc- and not a whisper about subsidising low income families- and that's in inner London.

Original poster

justgavebirth · 08/03/2010 21:17

Soup Dragon, I'm not doing the benefit game here but when you earn £500 per annum above the target to qualify and you probably spend that on school meals alone of course I am annoyed that I subsidise everyone elses trip!

OP posts:

Whoamireally · 08/03/2010 21:18

Who is subsidising the free meals people - in your first post you say it's the school, and now you're saying it's you?

Makes a big difference...

motherlovebone · 08/03/2010 21:18

YOU subsidise EVERYONE elses trip??

GlastonburyGoddess · 08/03/2010 21:19

And I speak as someone who has been on benefits for a short period in the past, and as someone who now(with dp) earns just over the amount pa to qualify for housing benefit/healthy start/maternity grant/free school meals etc etc etc

Original poster

justgavebirth · 08/03/2010 21:19

sorry should of explained myself, they are NOT school trips but outings that the school arrange as part of a programme. Some are in school time and some are after. Therefore only way DD can go is if we pay

OP posts:

MrsC2010 · 08/03/2010 21:20

YABVU. I feel a little like I overdone myself on the 'defender of the disadvantaged' on these type of threads recently ans I suspect everyone will be getting bored of it. So leaving it.

foxinsocks · 08/03/2010 21:21

are all those trips during the day or are they ones after school (like the ice skating) because I bet not everyone can go anyway

Bumperlicious · 08/03/2010 21:22

Who are 'free school meals'?

SoupDragon · 08/03/2010 21:22

In our school, the subsidy comes out of the school's "hardship fund".

JollyPirate · 08/03/2010 21:22

Not sure about this - I work and pay for school meals, trips etc as they come up - it is a nightmare at times bec ause I only work part-time. However, I am happy that those on benefits are supported because some of these families could not afford these trips etc otherwise.

I struggle probably on not much more than some families receive in benefits but once DS is more settled I can at least increase my hours and earn more money - some of the families in DS's school will not have that luxury.

Eglu · 08/03/2010 21:25

Schools must ensure that trips are available to all children. This means they must make the price not too high so that children can go. It does seem a little unfair that trips are quite expensive, and therefore becoming out of your price range.

foxinsocks · 08/03/2010 21:25

Nobody sends their child on absolutely bloody every single thing

even those who are loaded

if you are trying to do that because you think your kids are missing out, you are mistaken

I'd always try and get them to go on proper school trips (i.e. the ones during the day organised by the school) but the other ones, there's no way everyone can afford every one or even have the time (as lots do clubs)

GypsyMoth · 08/03/2010 21:26

i dont think its got anything to do with you!

free school meals are there for a reason...as are hardship funds etc

2shoes · 08/03/2010 21:29

By dreamingofsun Mon 08-Mar-10 21:13:40
justgave - my older son is always moaning about his mates who get £30 a week to stay on after 16- he gets 5 pocket money as thats all we can afford. we also have to pay bus fares - unlike his mates- even if they go to the local school. And then of course he will leave college with massive debts whilst his mates will get some grant.

ice-skating hardly seems essential or educational - so not sure why it has to be subsidised

it does make you wonder sometimes why you bother going to work. its also sending out mixed messages to the kids - ie don't bother working and the gov will provide

please check your facts, not all kids that get full ema have parents who re on benefits, lots are just on very low incomes.

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