Are any of your DC's schools 'poverty proofing'

TellerTuesday · 2023-09-17T16:56:19+00:00

If so what changes have been made and what are your thoughts as a parent of those changes? DC's school (& the wider academy trust) have been working with a children's charity and have put a new poverty prepping strategy in place. Most notable changes are: • no snacks to be brought in to school • no non uniform days • no gifts for teachers (Xmas, end of year etc) • no cakes / sweets to be brought in to celebrate a child's birthday

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AuldWeegie · 17/09/2023 17:58

What's the thinking behind no snacks being brought into school?

The other changes are sensible though.

Itslosenotloose · 17/09/2023 18:00

Christ more joy being zapped out of the world (and I’m pretty poor btw before someone pipes up)…

Heyhoherewegoagain · 17/09/2023 18:02

Other than the snacks it sounds pretty reasonable

UpUpUpU · 17/09/2023 18:02

How bloody miserable.

Original poster

TellerTuesday · 17/09/2023 18:02

AuldWeegie · 17/09/2023 17:58

What's the thinking behind no snacks being brought into school?

The other changes are sensible though.

School will provide a piece of fruit for each child rather than them bring their own 'more expensive' snacks. This then brings up the issue of how much food is being wasted as from what my DC's say the majority of children aren't having the school provided snack.

OP posts:

SisterMichaelsHabit · 17/09/2023 18:03

No that sounds joyless and it's not going to solve the underlying issues.

Effervescent999 · 17/09/2023 18:05

That is all just common sense

howshouldibehave · 17/09/2023 18:07

TellerTuesday · 17/09/2023 18:02

School will provide a piece of fruit for each child rather than them bring their own 'more expensive' snacks. This then brings up the issue of how much food is being wasted as from what my DC's say the majority of children aren't having the school provided snack.

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I’m amazed the schools have the budget for that. We should be poverty-proofing our schools as well.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 17/09/2023 18:08

My kids finished school a long time ago but all the non uniform days and bring a pound for this that and the other used to really big me…I only 2 kids at the school, a friend had 4 at one point, and the school was a nightmare for dropping these things at a moment’s notice. Depending on the point in the month, that 4 quid could really screw her up.

Desecratedcoconut · 17/09/2023 18:08

No, nothing like that. I know some mums in another class got together to make a case for stuff like this but it didn't get any traction.

Jobquestion · 17/09/2023 18:08

Completely agree with the presents for teachers. Our school has a collection pot twice a year for the teacher. It's that group app collection thing where you see what others put in. I really hate it, as a concept. If everyone puts in 10, I am not going to be the one to put in 5.
I have raised it once, that I would prefer a more anonymous or less pressure option when not all parents can afford this, but the organising parent was not interested.

Ricewhispies · 17/09/2023 18:09

Sounds utterly shit and joyless, and I say this as a child who grew up in poverty. I agree the relentlessness of dress up days can be wild but surely there's a middle ground and a way to include children who can't donate.

Andanotherone01 · 17/09/2023 18:10

The only one I really agree with is the blanket ban on teacher gifts. I’ll probably get slaughtered and accused of being miserable but I see it a lot on here from teachers that they are fed up with yet another mug/bottle of wine/box of chocolates and at some schools there is immense pressure from the other parents into competitive gift buying. Even worse is the twice yearly summons of ‘a fiver from every child for a nice voucher/gift from the class.’

Original poster

TellerTuesday · 17/09/2023 18:11

Ricewhispies · 17/09/2023 18:09

Sounds utterly shit and joyless, and I say this as a child who grew up in poverty. I agree the relentlessness of dress up days can be wild but surely there's a middle ground and a way to include children who can't donate.

The thing is, in all fairness to the school, the contribution side of non uniform days was always optional anyway. There were collection buckets at the door to drop the £ coin in on the way in so it wasn't exactly obviously who was (or wasn't) donating anyway.

OP posts:

TheYearOfSmallThings · 17/09/2023 18:13

That all sounds a bit drab, and I'm not convinced it will help anyone. No costume days might save a few quid, but non uniform days cost nothing.

HewasH2O · 17/09/2023 18:13

It's not just the donation on a NUD but also the pressure to find the right clothes/ fancy dress that goes alongside it. World Book Day is another ridiculous event, as most children seem to turn up as Disney Princesses or wearing Marvel outfits.

OneMoreStepAlongTheRoadIGo · 17/09/2023 18:13

I had a childhood where my parents didn't bother.

I hated dress up days so much. I could happily see those banned. And anything which requires parental donation.

BellaAndDave · 17/09/2023 18:14

Andanotherone01 · 17/09/2023 18:10

The only one I really agree with is the blanket ban on teacher gifts. I’ll probably get slaughtered and accused of being miserable but I see it a lot on here from teachers that they are fed up with yet another mug/bottle of wine/box of chocolates and at some schools there is immense pressure from the other parents into competitive gift buying. Even worse is the twice yearly summons of ‘a fiver from every child for a nice voucher/gift from the class.’

I agree as an ex teacher. I hated receiving gifts and we’d never have been allowed to accept spa day vouchers etc. We used to ask for an item for the local food bank to be brought in and popped in a basket in reception if any parents wanted to do anything. Our little independent food bank were so appreciative of the collections.

southlondoner02 · 17/09/2023 18:15

DD's school always made most things fairly accessible eg instead of a Christmas jumper day, they just had a general christmas theme which could be tying a bit of tinsel round their hair etc, with bits and bobs provided if they didn't bring anything in. Very few dress up days or requests for money,

OneMoreStepAlongTheRoadIGo · 17/09/2023 18:19

And yes Christmas jumper day should be banned. Tinsel or something fun much better.

sadaboutmycat · 17/09/2023 18:19

I thought they'd be helping from the title.
I know schools that-
Provide breakfasts for all children with no means testing
Provide uniforms in the same vein
Scrapped expensive blazers for more practical and cheaper sweatshirts.
This would be so much more practical.

NowWhattt · 17/09/2023 18:21

Regarding teacher gifts I think it should be at the discretion of the person who is going to be giving it. Fuck all that while class present bollocks.
I have never partaked in any of that- but I have always ensured that I give personal gifts to whom I want to, at my discretion.

I don’t see a problem with that .

NowWhattt · 17/09/2023 18:22

*. Whole not while

KittyKingdom · 17/09/2023 18:24

Unless they made every child wear the same brand of shoe this would have no impact on any of the schools In my area 😂

RosaBaby2 · 17/09/2023 18:26

Is this Children North East?