School trip to building site!!!!!

[justunbelievable]

Local infant school is having an extension built. They decided to take Yr1 children on a 'trip' to the building site and charged parents £3.50 for the privilege! A picnic was held (not sure if that was on the building site) but parents had to supply the packed lunch themselves. Any parent not paying received a chase-up 'phone call from the office. I am absolutely gobsmacked at this and wonder where the money went

Was if for transport costs? I had to pay £13 for a school trip to the local free museum.

My DS would have love a trip to a building site!

No, it was not for transport costs - the site is 2 steps from the school front door!

Insurance?
I would give the chool a call. They should be able to answer this easily. We have to cost every trip so carefully!

Probably fund raising for the new building?

If it was fundraising this should have been clear in the letter you received. Does the letter mention anything about how they calculated the £3.50 charge?

Schools are not allowed to make a profit from a school trip and this does sound rather suspicious! I would certainly ask what the money is paying for!

That does sound odd.

Has reminded me though that our summer school trips were, one year - sewage works, next year - william lowes! The glamour!

My first response was that it sounds like a great idea, my DSs would have loved it in yr1 and it's good when schools think of local free or cheap things to do for their trips, but £3.50 when no costs at all involved?

If it was fund raising surely you should have bene told that?

I would have to ask "just out of interest"

I would definitely ask as that is a lot of money for a trip 2 steps from the school building.

The school that my daughter goes to doesnt charge for school trips in case someone cant afford it. They ask for a suggested donation but if you cant afford it they dont phone to ask where the money is!

Incredible!

It is very right that the school should be using such an occaison to give different lessons from normal. we did it when we have an extension at the school and the pupils loved it.
However charging £3.50 to go to a building site in the school grounds is just absolutely wrong. The charging policy that the school should have would say this cannot happen as it is during the school day and any charge would be voluntary. That is apart from the obvious comment that a charge for walking in the school grounds seems a bit OTT.

possibly- just possibly-
that money was to pay for a site manager/ surveyor / person from building firm to come along, talk to kids, explain building methods, bring with them 30 small hard hats and Hi Vis tabards, ensure any hazardous work on site is stopped for as long as it takes to do kids tour and be responsible for the safety of those children while they are on the work site.

Even adults visiting a well run site have to be briefed , kitted up and accompanied at all times.

bound to be for insurance and maybe professional fees (though most architects/building companies would do this for free for the goodwill).

jeez, DS1 would love that