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PFO

2 replies

sugarplumfairy82 · 19/03/2025 13:04

I am very frustrated and wondering how others would feel about this. Until recently I was a member of our school's PFO. It's always been my understanding that any funds given to the school from the PFO should be used for the majority of children, not just a few. e.g. enrichment activities for a whole year group, or items for the whole school. In this case a significant of money was given over to the school for SEN only children (thousands of pounds), there was no real consultation with PFO members, and it was done I feel under the radar. I know SEN funding is a real issue, and that this whole area of education is very challenging and possibly contentious. However I feel that PFO funds should remain neutral and open to all children in any of the activities that they fund. Also if there is a genuine need for specialist equipment for a small percentage of children, then shouldn't this be covered by funding from the government / council / academy trust? I am not debating whether there was or wasn't a need for this particular equipment, but I don't feel it should be the role of the PFO to fund anything so specialist. I would like to see the majority of the money go to fast turnaround experiences and items that benefit the whole school community directly. The headteacher argued that it does indirectly benefit all children, but I felt this was a tenuous argument as those children in receipt of the equipment are already being removed from the classroom anyway. On a daily basis it makes no difference to the majority of children, although it potentially improves the lives of a few in receipt of the items. Am I being unreasonable? Constructive thoughts welcome

OP posts:
ohcrikeynotagain · 19/03/2025 15:18

When I was on the PTA we had a budget/pots and it was broken down something like:-

Class pot for teacher to spend how they saw fit (typically stickers!)
Big project that would be fund raised for the whole year - so a stage, new set of sports equipment etc
Smaller projects - eg funding for science week, funding to get a visiting theatre company in, paying for the bus on a trip to the beach, buying books for the library
Head teachers project - so this would be something for the whole school and take a while to fundraise for - so for eg kits for the woodland area, climbing frames, quiet area refurb (bean bags, tables etc) and would typically be for the whole school.

I can't think we had something for a specific year group/sector as such .

Is there any oversight? Are there minutes if meetings/audits etc? Does the head have a veto?

Not sure what you do, and it sounds like you've complained. Have you had a look at the constitution? . If it's something potentially fraudulent eg something bought from a company owned by the heads spouse you might be able to complain via governors and /or the PTA association (I think it's usually that ptas are registered with them?). The question will be is it worth it?

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 19/03/2025 15:27

As the parent of a SEN child I agree with you.

Not because SEN kids get even a fraction of what is actually needed in terms of resources, but because of the law of slippery slopes.

If PFOs and other groups start prop up the bottomless pit that is SEN, then government will just say 'job done, thanks' or there will be no real, clear picture of what is needed.

ETA: And because the purpose was the fund something for all, not a particular group - worthy or otherwise.

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