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Parenting

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Original poster

First child in school - shocked that school wants money.

77 replies

Ablepsia · 16/09/2017 15:45

My boy has just started foundation/reception and as my first child it is a learning curve for me too! One thing I am disgusted at is that the school is asking for £10 towards the snack table AND items for the "malleable table". The snack table I can sort of buy into but asking for money for school supplies seems just wrong! What do I pay taxes for??

On a similar theme, they are having a day when school uniform is excused. Great, seems like a bit of fun I thought. But, no, YOU HAVE TO GIVE MONEY TO CHARITY!!!! Jeez, the charity blackmail begins with using children now does it?!

Obviously I have to build and maintain a good relationship with the school so am loathe to complain. But should I? Is this normal?

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ReinettePompadour · 16/09/2017 16:21

Yes, completely normal.

Although your taxes cover the cost of the actual education it doesn't cover the cost of the 'nice to haves' like art supplies, cooking ingredients, play equipment like skipping ropes, extra fun games and educational toys, pens, pencils, glitter, glue.....I could go on.

Extra money is always asked for and its usually disguised as a charitable donation. We have a voluntary fund where they pay for pantomime trips and end of year pic nics etc. If you dont pay they spend the next few weeks chasing you up highlighting the importance of the money as without enough participation it will need to be cancelled etc.

notapizzaeater · 16/09/2017 16:22

Have you nit watched any news recently ? There's huge cuts,

School don't have / offer a snack table - the just wouldn't bother as they don't have the budget - our primary has the free fruit in the morning and make toast in the afternoon, the kids help prepare it, butter it, cut it etc each 'table' does it for a week at a time and then they serve it and they all sit and eat - teaches them loads of stuff but there is no way the school could afford it.

SavoyCabbage · 16/09/2017 16:22

I can't believe you are disgusted! Did you not know about the schools having their budgets cut to ribbons?

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hertsandessex · 16/09/2017 16:24

I'd chill out and accept it - unfortunately it will get a lot worse! Sixth form these days seems to involve a fortune on books (hundreds of pounds in many cases) and just had to buy a £65 calculator that was basically compulsory.

Winnsy · 16/09/2017 16:26

Another teacher here and I'm the same as Hiding

Government cuts mean there is no money for adequate staff and we have lost a whole load of midday supervisors and Teaching Assistants this year as their contracts were not renewed.

There just isn't any money for glue, white board pens for the children, ingredients for playdough etc, but these are essential items for us to deliver the curriculum. Ditto spare pants/trousers and socks for children who have accidents but no spares of their own. It really is dire.

I'm in a school in a deprived area and it's not fair to ask parents so I've bought these things myself out of my own pocket. As I do every single month.

And then I wonder why I can't afford nappies for my own child 😞

I'm sorry you've had a shock being asked for £ already, but please don't be cross at the teachers or the school. It really isn't their fault.

CruzRamirez · 16/09/2017 16:27

£39 per child per year here plus charity stuff and a lot of requests for donations for PTA events. But the children enjoy subsidised school trips and the school is well stocked with sports equipment, smart boards, iPads etc. that wouldn't be there if we didn't.

YABU for finding it a bit of a shock but as PPs have said your taxes really just buy the bare minimum.

CallMeKate · 16/09/2017 16:27

If you're whining about paying for a snack table etc think of the Teachers and how much they buy. There's absolutely no money in our school due to budget cuts and most of us buy colouring pens/pencils/craft items/stickers etc etc. I'm gobsmacked you're whinging over a charity donation too. 🙄

CrumpettyTree · 16/09/2017 16:28

Disgusted?

niknac1 · 16/09/2017 16:29

When I went to school there wasn't any of the charity/ pta/ fundraising. Now we pay for swimming and its transport, books for the libraries, after school clubs.

If you don't join in the Facebook photos will reveal this, I would rather send my child into school in uniform and donate but they then get ribbing so fill up the jar with £1 coins, get some envelopes and sellotape to seal them and get handy with the dress up. I agree it's a bit of a shock if your schooling didn't include this( I am old so that's probably why I was a little surprised as well)

Weebo · 16/09/2017 16:31

It can be a pain in the bum but only because DS1 usually tells me he needs x amount as we roll up to the school gate and I have left my purse at home.

Otherwise, I am happy to give whatever they ask. It's never very much and I know they are on the bones of their arses.

PinkHeart5913 · 16/09/2017 16:36

Send your kid in uniform and use the £1 to buy yourself a fucking grip
😂 Best thing I have read on here today, First class comment.

Shakey15000 · 16/09/2017 16:37

Wait till they get to year 5 ish and want £250 odd for a two day residential outward bound doobrie

DH had a rant until I broke it down into activities/food/bed/travel/insurances etc. Then he just mutters every now and then

NeedsAsockamnesty · 16/09/2017 16:39

It's normal and possibly was even when you went to school.

paxillin · 16/09/2017 16:39

Surely the no-uniform day is only 50p-£1?

Totally normal here, too. As is bake a cake for charity cake sales, hand over outgrown uniform for the PTA sale and help school out with donations. As PPs said, in other countries you buy school books, exercise books, pens etc. All this is free in English schools, as are the school meals in early years.

If you don't have the £1 for charity or £10 for the malleable table have a quiet word with the TA, teacher or family liaison officer and they won't pester you or your DC for it.

Bobbiepin · 16/09/2017 16:47

Please tell me you aren't being serious. You're actually complaining about paying to feed your child? Your child's teachers will pay far more towards their education than you will. Get used to it, and don't ever complain if your taxes are raised to pay for education.

Just so it doesn't come as a shock, its traditional to buy your kid's teacher a present at Christmas and the end of the year, a bottle of alcohol will usually do the trick. If your kid is anything like you, then they are they reason the teacher drinks.

Sedona123 · 16/09/2017 18:21

Mamaoftwos and Bobbiepin have pretty much said all there is to say.

You live in a country with free schooling, dentistry and healthcare for your DS and you're complaining about sending a tiny amount of money for snacks and the malleable table??

Just curious, but is the £10 snack money per term or per year? Even if it's per term, it would cost you way more than that to provide a snack every day yourself.

Figgygal · 16/09/2017 18:27

Get used to it
My ds started reception last year we pay an annual contribution you pay on mufti days I've just paid for school trip. We have a great "friends of the school" society who raised £10k last year god knows what it would be like without them

00100001 · 16/09/2017 18:31

Surely you remember non-uniform days from when you were at school??? You always pay £1

Pancakeflipper · 16/09/2017 18:37

Wait till the buns sales - you bake, take them to school and then pay a few quid to buy them back.
It's worth it to have a decent school. The government are breaking education.

BackieJerkhart · 16/09/2017 18:38

What do I pay taxes for??

School buildings, building maintenance, desks, chairs, books, pencils, computers, electric, heating, staff training, teachers, support staff, school-parent communications, crossing patrol, uniforms, school meals. The list goes on and on. Are you sure you pay enough tax to cover all that?

PotteringAlong · 16/09/2017 18:42

Do you not remember having none uniform days at school and taking money in? It's hardly a new phenomenon!

ProfessorCat · 16/09/2017 18:46

It's a good job you're not a teacher. I have spent literally thousands of my own money on my classroom/pupils because there isn't enough money to enable me to buy things I need and use. It's made me short quite a few times, but the children are more important to me. It's a shame some of the parents don't realise /appreciate it.

MothratheMighty · 16/09/2017 18:49

Normal. Also normal for arse you parents to send their child in uniform, for the child to be in tears until the staff find something for them to wear from the dressing up cupboard.

OrphanAccount · 16/09/2017 18:58

This is the reality of government cuts. I work in a school and our budget has benn slashed. We made 2 TAs redundant in July. Another HLTA retired and has not been replaced because there are no funds to pay for one.

Class teachers are using their own money to buy glue sticks, pencils, scissors etc for the classroom.

OublietteBravo · 16/09/2017 18:59

What do I pay taxes for?

I'd be surprised if you were a net contributor to the tax system (you need to earn a lot and use very few public services to qualify as such). How much do you think it costs to educate a child? Or for a doctors appointment?

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