Regular giving to primary school

[kaffkooks]

I'm trying to work out how to give regularly to my children's state primary as we've benefitted from the sudden (ridiculous) tax changes and I want to money to go underfunded local services. It's a very mixed school with 25% on free school meals along with quite a few from more affluent backgrounds. The school is on the government tax free childcare scheme, can I pay them a regular amount using that?
If I can't give direct to school, do I need to give via the PTA? They aren't particularly active and unfortunately I'm only in a position to give money rather than time. I don't want people to know that I'm doing this as I don't want to be the subject of gossip. I also don't want anyone else to feel compelled to do the same thing and I definitely don't want anyone to make a fuss about it.

If they're a registered charity then give via your PTA-they'll be able to claim Gift aid (as will you depending on your tax bracket)....

I don't think they are a charity. It seems wrong that state schools aren't charities whilst private schools are. The whole system is messed up.

Drop the school an email and ask, it's literally the only way to get this question answered.

The PTA should be a registered charity (not the school). There should be a registered bank account, named treasurer etc.
If they aren't I would be reluctant to give them money as then it's all a bit unofficial and you are relying on trust about where the money goes.

If the PTA is inactive when it comes to organising things and raising money, they will be inactive when it comes to spending your money effectively. Many schools have a private fund that they’d happily accept a donation into. Ask the school how they’d like you to donate, they will probably bite your hand off.

Personally I'd ask for a chat with the head. I'm on the governors and pta at my daughters school and if I wanted money to be given anonymously I'd do it with the less people involved. Ask if a donation would be better or if there is somthing the school needs and you can buy and donate. By the way I think it's a lovely thing to do and I'm sure your school will be really grateful.

Go through PTA.

Offer things like regular monthly stationery orders for things like glue sticks, blutak, etc

Or funding events etc

OP, what a great idea. I'd speak to the Head. They may have a way of subtly asking other parents like you and therefore increasing the benefit.
I bet the Head will immediately have an idea of where to spend the money and May even let you select from a list

I’m not sure if it’s changed but PTA can only register as a charity if it gets a certain amount in donations per annum. PTA often like to buy big ticket items like a climbing frame when it’s actually the smaller everyday stuff that’s required.

TBH just ask if there’s anything the school needs. The school office will
know what the teachers are requesting for their classrooms. It will be books or stationery.

Have you got a particular interest?music,art ,sports ? Is there something the school really needs in line with this or children who need equipment to follow their interest? I think it would be lovely to have money earmarked for a particular thing otherwise it'll just get lost in the general spend. Can it be be used to reduce transport costs to parents for school trips? Help with school uniform for children who need it? Books for the library. I would talk directly to the head , dont involve PTA it will never stay secret then .

Could you make a regular donation of glue sticks, tissues and hand soap? These are always in high demand where we are

Do they use a local swimming pool for lessons? Can you cover the hire of this?

I think a state school can't have charity status and will be unable to accept donations. Most PTA/fundraising school activities are done through a separate budget and accounts and will usually have charitable status, meaning you can donate , gift aid declare it in your self assessment tax return if you wanted to.
I agree..tax cuts for top rate payers are absolutely ludicrous. Well done for wanting to continue to make a fair contribution.

Most state schools are charities. If the school is an academy, foundation school, voluntary aided or voluntary controlled school, it is a charity (to be precise, for VA and VC schools the governing body is a charity and there is usually a separate charity that owns the land and buildings). The only type of school that cannot be a charity is a community school.

I’d suggest just asking the school, they’d be grateful for any help.

Unless the PTA is a charity and Gift Aid is an option, I’d rather give to the school directly either in cash or physical items.

A school will always be short of craft materials, sports equipment and just general nice to haves (occasional small treats for the children for example).

In the past, I’ve sometimes put in double for a school trips with the explicit instruction that it could be used either to enable a child who couldn’t afford it go OR however the school see fit. I got a quick thank you from the school but no more detail, which is fine by me.

Ask the school. I was at Catholic schools, where school fund payments were a normal thing and you’d be shamed if you didn’t pay. I wouldn’t want my children at a school like that, but at the same time I’ve long been surprised that they don’t have an optional donation button on the payments system so you could chuck in a few extra pounds when buying a jumper or paying for a trip.

On the ParentPay system our school uses (to pay for dinners, trips etc) there’s also a button called School Fund and you can pay in whatever amount you want.

We have had a parent donate several hundred pounds worth of books. We said what we wanted, placed the order and she paid. Disagree with pp that schools generally need sports equipment - because of the sports premium funding PE is the only subject in our curriculum that actually is well funded. A primary revives around £9k a year sports premium. Donating money for school trips is what would make a massive difference to us.

I too can't really give my time so I asked the PTA for the bank details and set up a monthly standing order. Start there perhaps?

Or as others have suggested, ask what the school needs and offer to buy it?

This is such a great thing to do. Make an appointment to see the Headteacher to find out how your money can make the biggest difference to the children. Could you pay for some of the nice extras such as theatre companies to come in for example? I think swimming is a good idea too. I think it’s about 4K for pool hire and swimming coaches.

I'm a school governor and schools can absolutely accept donations directly and via the PTA. Our school has actually set up an Amazon gift page for parents to buy stationary and other supplies. If you made a regular donation of these types of items to the school, that would be the most efficient way of doing so if your PTA isn't active. Speak to the head and ask what they could use as a donation.

Also, I wouldn't count on the tax changes if I were you. They haven't actually come into effect yet and I strongly suspect they'll be reversed before they are. If the only way you can afford the donations is because of the assumed reduction in the 45% rate, I'd keep your powder dry for now.

Most primary schools do have charitable status, but they may not be set up for GiftAid if there’s no set up for donations. The PTA isn’t automatically a charity - you’d have to find that out. Donating directly to the school is better for the school as they can decide how to spend it. Some PTAs will only spend money on certain things, though this may not be the casein your school.

On Parentpay there are usually several options to give either to the Hardship Fund or specific other funds.

Definitely ask the school. I work in a school where most children are low income with above average free school meals. Unfortunately this means most of the little extras fall on staff to fund. (Often in the hundreds a year).