WIBU to say we dont want the extra funding?

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DD(7) is entitled to free school meals. Last year her teacher told me that meant she was also entitled to some extra funding for an extra curricular activity of her choice and that I'd hear more about it soon.

This week, the school link worker told me they had spoken to DD and thought that a craft activity would be the best thing for her to do. They have decided she should do pottery classes. There are none nearby as we are v rural so they are going to find out where the nearest is, and I will also be granted some funding for petrol costs.

Now, I know its somewhat ungrateful yada yada. But I want to say thanks but no thanks.

DD isn't interested in pottery. I asked her about it and she rolled her eyes and said the teachers told her she should do it. Anyway, we live in a commune and one of the members is a professional potter. We have a bloody pottery workshop here at home! Its not like DD never gets the chance to do crafty stuff - the staff at school seem to think she lives up a hill with a load of hippies and has no opportunities.

She wants to do horseriding, which she could do in our village, and the activity is meant to be one of her own choosing. Not what the school think she 'should' do. Thats not the point of it, surely?

She is in school for most of the week. Neither she nor I want to spend half of one of our precious free days trekking round to a class she isn't interested in.

So.... should I say no thanks? Or should I try to insist DD gets to do an activity she actually wants to do and cannot do at home for free? And does anyone know what this funding actually is called so I can look up how it is meant to be used?

id insist they let her do something shes interested in like you say thats the point of it isnt it google this as it wouldnt paste

Activity funding for students on free school meals or children in care hth

I know kids in our area who are entitled to free school meals are also entitled to free music tuition in school (instrument supplied) in our case either brass or violin.

Can't say I was too gutted when DD gave up the Euphonium

you should say "Thanks but no thanks, DD wants to do horseriding, can you fund that please?"

Insist DD gets to do an activity she actually wants to do.

I would tell them she wants to go horseriding. The scheme is meant to give children access to activities they may not get a chance to do - clearly pottery isn't oone of those!!

I would get a list of the benefits of horseriding in case they try and argue why pottery would be beneficial.

It seems completely against what the benefit is for if you are forced to spend money on petrol to go to an activity your DD doesn't want to do.

It does seem to be something that could be sorted out by a quick chat with the Head though.

This is the 'Give it a go' funding. I get it for our foster child. It pays for his swimming lessons. I got a form from the school, took it to the pool, they filled it in, and I sent it back to school. It was my decision (and our fc) what the funding went towards, not the school.
One of the children at school uses it for horseriding lessons - again parent's decision, not the school's.
Definately don't turn down the funding - just say you will be spending it on horseriding lessons.

Its called something different in our area - I managed to find out more about it and rang the funding department. They said that absolutely DD and I should have been sent a letter about the funding (the letter is available as a download from the website) that explained about it and told us we had the choice of what activity DD could do. We weren't.

They also said the school should have minimal input into choosing the activity as it is meant to give poor children the same choices as better of children, so the school choosing kind of defeats the point!

So now I have to ring the school an challenge them on it as assertively and politely as I can - I am not very confident about this sort of thing and am rather nervous and uncertain what to say. Anyone have any ideas quickly, and AIBU to be a bit pissed off they haven't really done this correctly?

Anyone? Just a tiny bit of hand-holding? I know its pathetic but I am dreadful at dealing with school, I feel 7 all over again

Could you do it by email ? Then you can rewrite until you're sure you have it as you want it.

If I was writing I would just keep it factual and say that you as a family have decided that DD will be doing horse riding. No need to explain any further or mention the pottery, If you present it to them as a fait accompli there's not much they can do.

Good luck

Write a polite letter to the head teacher or just teacher organising involved possibly.

Say what you've said here why pottery is unsuitable- and that you have spoken to the people running the scheme ie (you know what you are talking about). Thank them for the schools help and say you will be picking horse riding which the person running the scheme says is fine and say why its a better activity for your DD.

Not that I make a habit of letter writing but it does help get messages clearly across and stop me getting dismissed or my nerves getting in the way.

Thank you. I don't want to be too, dunno, formal I suppose. I feel I should conquer my demons and just talk to them...

Obviously if they are not willing to change it then a letter will be next.

It is such a tiny school (2 teachers, half a head!) that things tend to be very informal.

'Thank you so much for the idea of pottery classes for dd. However, it wouldn't be a good use of the money to use it for that as she has access to pottery at hime, including a real potters wheel and a potter - however, there are other things she would LOVE to do - could we talk about that? I am assuming this is ?? fund money, so she will be able to choose from a wide range of opportunities that interest her, won't she?'

1. Screw the pottery.

2. Get her down the local stables and see if she can help out at weekends for subsidised lessons?

Most yard staff despise mucking out/poo picking/bucket sloshing etc and are glad to cream of the work to pony mad children!

If shes desperate can you let me know where you are? I amight know somewhere?

I would go and speak to them and say you have spoken to your DD and she would much rather do horse riding, that you were a bit usure if you could choose the activity yourself so you contacted the funding department and they were surprised you hadn't had the letter and you are allowed to use this fundig as you wish.

The school will hopefully be more open with you in the future and maybe getting over this hurdle (remember they are just other grown ups too!!) will help you feel less of 7 year old - though I know what you mean, I felt I was back in reception when my DS's Head Teacher first spoke to me!!

When I had to speak to DD teacher on an issue - I wrote a letter to help clarify my thoughts. I did chat to teacher but she was very dismissive so at end of the chat I handed the letter over. Seemed to make the difference in getting what needed doing done.