Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

FREE school trips and holidays/parents on benefits!

185 replies

graceM · 11/02/2015 18:12

Tonight I've had a letter home from my son's secondary school letting us know that there is a trip to France coming up in July before they break up for summer. It's for four days and it costs £672, well I've just read at bottom of the page that the trip will be either free of charge or reduced accordingly for parents who claim benefits, ie income support, job seekers, housing benefit etc etc, well I'm absolutely furious to say the least!

I know that not everyone can afford to send their children on expensive school trips/holidays etc, neither can I really but I'm willing to scrimp and save to ensure my son gets to go. So why the hell should other parents get it free? If you can't afford for your child to go then they don't go simple, I know it's sad but that's just the way it is. Not happy!

OP posts:
PrincessSmartipants · 12/02/2015 11:51

School uniform is NOT funded! And can cost upwards of £200 to kit a Y7 child out, with more having to be spent every time they lose things, grow out of things, the school fancies a logo change... It's actually a significant sum.

AliceinWinterWonderland · 12/02/2015 11:59

From the OP:

well I've just read at bottom of the page that the trip will be either free of charge or reduced accordingly for parents who claim benefits, ie income support, job seekers, housing benefit etc etc,

It seems from this line that the school is open to discussing things with people. I imagine if the expense is a struggle that they would likely work with you on this.

Of course, I don't really think this thread is as much about what you can or cannot afford, but more about being yet another benefits bashing exercise.

FWIW, I am on benefits, and I always pay for the dcs' trips and such (other than FSMs) because I can manage it and I know there are always those that are struggling more. I don't begrudge them, why should you?

unlucky83 · 12/02/2015 11:59

In our council area I know you can get a grant towards the cost of school uniform if you are in receipt of benefits -don't know how much for etc -just noticed a poster in the school....

SunnyBaudelaire · 12/02/2015 12:04

in this area you can get a grant for secondary school uniform if in receipt of benefits. Once, for year 7.
and OP what would you rather the pupil premium was spent on then?
or should poorer children just not go?

not happy? boo hoo

SunnyBaudelaire · 12/02/2015 12:06

and incidentally the PP paid to the school for my children has never, ever been used to benefit them.

GratefulHead · 12/02/2015 12:07

You can get help with uniform costs in Essex but you have to have compelling reasons. So being on benefits is not enough alone, you have to have other reasons for it to be awarded.
My friend got one because she was moved from a women's refuge to an area too far for her DD to continue at her previous school so needed to buy a new lot of uniform. Essex gave her a certn amount towards it for that reason,

brighticewhite · 12/02/2015 12:23

In our council area we get a one-off £200 towards school uniform in Yr 7 (for everyone on benefits), but it doesn't help by the time they're in Yr 9 and grown out of everything!

We are on benefits and we've had free school trips including a trip to France. It was pretty essential for my DS's education, he needed the opportunity to practice his language skills, and I don't see why he should miss out on that experience because of our financial situation.

unlucky83 · 12/02/2015 12:34

This is a primary and it listed the benefits ....things like income support and tax credits under a certain amount pa ...don't think it said how much it was for though.

(was waiting to speak to the school secretary, reading all the posters, not specifically that one...thought it could have been promoted/targeted better...unless the people who needed it got the information from elsewhere as well - think it is the first time in 10 yrs I've ever had the opportunity to read all the posters...)

Pooka · 12/02/2015 12:41

This is the scheme here too.

I have no problem with it whatsoever.

It's much more fair and a sign of an inclusive school - both big positives IMO.

Dd is off to germany for 5 nights next year when she's in year 8. We were told in the first half term of year 7, with installments set out. Think is costing about £500. If the kids on pupil premium bring in money, then it's appropriate that that money goes to wards narrowing the gap between have and have nots. In any case, the PTA pay I think a proportion of additional cost. They certainly did at primary school.

vindscreenviper · 12/02/2015 12:54

I'd be furious with the school to OP.
They have only told you now about a trip costing £672 that is happening in July! That is shocking, what kind of crap, badly-organised school pulls a stunt like that.
We were told in the second week of September what the YR6 post-SATS residential would cost, along with details of when installments would be asked for. There was also some information about the reduced cost for FSM pupils, but I don't recall the details as it didn't affect me .

ArcheryAnnie · 12/02/2015 13:14

The people eligible for this are people for whom there is no more margin to scrimp and save.

Why are you so bitter at other people's children not being adequately punished for their parents being poor?

GahBuggerit · 12/02/2015 13:19

I agree OP. We, work FT, cant afford holidays anywhere, trips out, etc £672 would be impossible, so doesn't seem fair at all but thats just the way it is. I know Id hate to have to rely on benefits, but sometimes I do wonder why I bother to work when most of the mums around me get to SAH and see more of their children, buy lovely things, go on holidays, nice cars etc. I imagine most of it is on credit cards etc but still......it does grate I'll be honest.

SunnyBaudelaire · 12/02/2015 13:21

"I do wonder why I bother to work when most of the mums around me get to SAH and see more of their children, buy lovely things, go on holidays, nice cars etc"
what an absolute load of bollocks. Nobody on benefits 'goes on holidays and drives nice cars'n it is a figment of your imagination.

SunnyBaudelaire · 12/02/2015 13:21

"buy lovely things" my FAT ARSE

GahBuggerit · 12/02/2015 13:23

of course they do - I should bloody know I speak to them and see them!

As I say its probably on credit cards, none of my business of course, just explaining how they can do it I suppose. Wasnt having a go at all so please resist from frothing!

SunnyBaudelaire · 12/02/2015 13:23

yes of course they do! you just keep telling yourself that. whatever.

GahBuggerit · 12/02/2015 13:24

"Nobody on benefits 'goes on holidays"

Really? No-one on benefits at all goes on holidays? My big fuck off MASSIVE ARSE!!! Grin

ArcheryAnnie · 12/02/2015 13:24

I'm sure I have a tape measure somewhere, if graceM and GahBuggrit would like to measure their neighbours' tellys.

Gileswithachainsaw · 12/02/2015 13:26

Why are people so adamant this doesn't happen.

fraudulent claiming costs millions each yearn, of course there are people out there who have lots of new things despite being on benefits.

that doesn't mean everyone's at it means that inevitable people will come across others shacked up with partners on full benefits while partner earns or dodges CSA or whatever.

bad people come from all walks of life

GahBuggerit · 12/02/2015 13:26

Please stop thinkig Im having a go. Im not having a go at all. my above arse post was a bit of a dig at yours above that.

I wouldnt want to rely on benefits, doesnt mean I cant sometimes wonder from time to time if Im having a low moment.

SunnyBaudelaire · 12/02/2015 13:26

lol I bet my arse is fatter than yours!

SunnyBaudelaire · 12/02/2015 13:27

of course there are fiddlers and cheaters, but really being on benefits and nothing else, would really not allow for holidays and nice cars.

GahBuggerit · 12/02/2015 13:28

I dunno, mine is pretty fucking HUGE magnificent

LeftyLoony · 12/02/2015 13:28

No they don't. Nice reselling of an urban myth by the way.
Mind you we have a nice car - price is my son's inability to walk far.

GahBuggerit · 12/02/2015 13:30

Im ashamed to admit that my version of a nice car is around a 2008 plate Blush