payments enabling outside companies to come in during school day etc.

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At least twice a year dc's school have a company coming in to run workshops. We are asked to pay an amount to cover this. Normally £7 - £8. On top of this we obviosly pay for school trips out. I don't mind this. Plus Snack which I understood should be free in KS1. Plus usual sponsor forms etc. I am feeling like a cash machine. How much does it cost you to send your dc to school?

Oh yes - the 'workshops'. It costs a lot! Workshops, Mufti Days, India Days, School Fund, Whip-round for Teachers, Poppy Day, Bob-A-Job-Week, School Fair Donations, Swimming donations...... give me a minute, I'm sure I'll be able to think of some more.....

.....sponsored swim.....

.....dance troupe.....

.....book club....

.....fountain pen, calculator, clip-board.......

......hat day....

......Roman Day....

.....Victorian Day.....

......Ancient Greeks day.....

....... Picnic on the field Day ......

.......Visiting Circus Day.....

.....bear with me..... .......

Cake sales!

.....100 Club.....

You should not be paying for snack! All kids in KS1 are entitled to a piece of fruit. And in EYFS they get a piece of fruit and a drink of milk. This is paid for by the govt..........

.....jeans for genes day.....

We are paying 1-2 a time not 7-8

I also don't understand why they have to bring these agencies in.

It's to save money - if we go on trips out, parents moan that they're too expensive (coach costs are extortionate).
If we have people in (they cost £300+ per day), they complain because the children aren't going out and refuse to pay.

Don't know why schools bother organising treats for children if their parents are so ungrateful. (And it is a bloody hassle organising them.)

Lots are ungrateful, verity...

We lose loads of money on events held in school because parents don't realise that we have to pay loads of money to hire the performers (probably because we're not going anywhere)!

I know all of these things put a financial burden on parents (particularly if you have 2+ children), and I haven't got a clue what to do about it, except maybe fundraising through the PTA.

I'm ungrateful.

I don't want school to organise 'treats' for my children.

And I certainly don't want to pay for school organised 'treats' for my children.

All I want school to do is to teach my children and keep them safe.....

I always do pay, and I can afford it. But I don't appreciate it.

And I never have any evidence that my kids have enjoyed it or learnt anything from it.........

Yes 7 to 8 pounds is not cheap especiily when it comes with a you can buy a costume for £30 etc etc. I also have 3 dc and it gets expensive. I always pay it even when the school doesn't even bother to tell us it voluntary. Plus I also don't think children see it in the same way as a trip. One dc is going on a trip which is admittedly costing £20 but the others are upset because they are going on a trip. They don't really see these days run by external agencies as a treat.

IndigoBell - i try and organise one day a topic for my class ... most i do myself some we get someone in. Why? Its fun and inspires the children; someone else to come and teach them (which I think is important); and it ticks boxes such as language development, creativity, problem solving plus all the follow up work after. And at the end of the year I always ask my children what they have enjoyed the most over the year and they frequently talk about one day or another