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Original poster

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

117 replies

TellerTuesday · 17/09/2023 17:56

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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Original poster
TellerTuesday · 17/09/2023 18:26

RosaBaby2 · 17/09/2023 18:26

Is this Children North East?

Yes it is

OP posts:
Grmumpy · 17/09/2023 18:27

30 years ago my daughters class had a sponsored something for some charity. I didn’t want to ask anyone for money ( no grandparents alive) so gave her three pounds ( not sure how that equates in todays money). The class teacher apparently looked surprised and said ‘ is that all? My daughter said she replied she’d take it back home if it wasn’t enough and the teacher accepted it. Anonymous, voluntary donations are less problematic.

RosaBaby2 · 17/09/2023 18:31

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AuldWeegie · 17/09/2023 18:33

Our secondary has already sent home sponsorship forms for "school funds" activity. We have no extended family, so make a donation instead. It mounts up when the kids are also encouraged to wear their house colours.

billysillydilly · 17/09/2023 18:34

I don't understand the no mufti?

Ricewhispies · 17/09/2023 18:35

DS previous school (he's now at secondary) have done the following for many years- predating covid and the col which is great:

  • uniform swap shop: tonnes of free uniform from the branded jumpers and cardigans to dresses, trousers, shorts etc. People were asked to consider bringing their old uniform in when collecting new stuff but it didn't matter if you didn't, there was always tonnes of stuff and it was well used with zero shame/judgement as it was such an established thing.

  • mufti days money was taken discreetly so not a big deal if a parent couldn't afford it, no one knew! Often some parents would donate more than the recommended amount so still always raised a good amount.

  • for world book day they'd ask for people to bring in a plain white t shirt with spares for those who couldn't afford them and there'd be sessions at school to decorate. Some children did go all out with accessories but it was fine to just wear the decorated tee- no one was arsed. Didn't have any other dress up days.

  • birthdays was never a thing to bring in cakes, but each classroom had a 'class cake'- either wooden or a biscuit tin decorated and if the child wanted they'd sing happy birthday and get a sticker. Still felt special, children didn't have to and no pressure.

  • there wasn't a rule on teacher gifts but we'd always as parents do a collection and then get a gift card for teacher and TAs from everyone- even if the parents didn't donate if they wanted to sign it (some didn't for various reasons and that's fine). Some chose to handmake additional stuff or get small gifts but teachers were again discreet about this and no pressure.

  • PTA money would pay for food at the school disco etc so free to attend and just donations if could afford it.

There were other things but people didn't take the mick and it worked well. Plenty of fun stuff, I don't think those who can should be restricted or dictated to but also of course children shouldn't be made to feel like crap or left out.

LegendsBeyond · 17/09/2023 18:35

That sounds ridiculous. It just makes everyday life even more miserable.

billysillydilly · 17/09/2023 18:35

My schools have always said talk to the school if £1 is a problem. And the parents who can pay means quite a lot is raised.

RedAndWhiteCarnations · 17/09/2023 18:39

@Ricewhispies i like the way your school handled things.

TeenLifeMum · 17/09/2023 18:47

Most notable changes are:
• no snacks to be brought in to school
our primary always provided fruit (dc now at secondary) and no other snacks allowed

• no non uniform days
we did have these

• no gifts for teachers (Xmas, end of year etc)
i agree with this - hate the pressure.

• no cakes / sweets to be brought in to celebrate a child's birthday
due to allergies we weren’t allowed to send in cakes etc (severe egg allergy in the class)

hopeishere · 17/09/2023 18:47

billysillydilly · 17/09/2023 18:34

I don't understand the no mufti?

Is it to do with some kids coming in wearing head to toe Nike or similar and someone else in a supermarket brand maybe. So potential for bullying?

DyslexicPoster · 17/09/2023 19:00

What bugs me is various non uniform days for various charities. I get that it's good if it links into what they are learning about ( mental health day they had a talk by a MH charity). I often genuinely forget the pound. I can cloth her non school clothes cheaper than I can feed her thanks to vinted. I just wish the school was the charity for once.

Sprogonthetyne · 17/09/2023 19:06

billysillydilly · 17/09/2023 18:34

I don't understand the no mufti?

It's often not just generic mufti, it's something x colour or y themed, or spotty for CIN, or Christmasy.

If you don't happen yo own something that fits the theme, there's a pressure to go out and buy it.

FloweryName · 17/09/2023 19:10

We are very lucky that this hasn’t come to my school and it would be fairly unlikely in our catchment.

The no snacks rule would be very difficult to enforce. It would single out children with SN who need to bring their own snack and be detrimental to the well being and learning of the children who want a mid morning snack but don’t want whatever fruit the government scheme has provided that day.

I’d like to see schools stop using parents to get money for external charities like Comic Relief or whatever else they fancy. Raising money directly for the school is one thing, but expecting parents pay for their children to wear something they’ve had to buy especially to prevent their child being left out is a crazy thing that needs to stop everywhere.

Hubblebubble · 17/09/2023 19:12

Going against the grain here, but the snack rule is a fantastic equaliser. It means all children will have access to a healthy snack.

billysillydilly · 17/09/2023 19:15

@Sprogonthetyne the schools I work in or my dc go to always just make it clear it's generic mufti. Children in need is optional sporty but many dc dress the same when it's generic mufti anyway.

user1846385927482658 · 17/09/2023 19:15

Should children need snacks in the first place?

billysillydilly · 17/09/2023 19:17

Is it to do with some kids coming in wearing head to toe Nike or similar and someone else in a supermarket brand maybe. So potential for bullying?

@hopeishere I would expect the majority to be in supermarket vs head to toe nike & kids can have expensive things eg jackets, trainers, bags when in uniform anyway.

housethatbuiltme · 17/09/2023 19:21

Uniform does not fix poverty in anyway, this has been proved time and time again.

No food can be taken in is usually due to Natasha's Law not poverty.

You cannot ban someone gifting a person something, its a private action between two people. I mean if a teacher has a niece in the school can their sister not give them a christmas present? its just totally unenforcable. They can ask you not too, they can make it clear theres no obligation too but they can't control what an employee receives for Christmas etc...

MoggyP · 17/09/2023 19:21

user1846385927482658 · 17/09/2023 19:15

Should children need snacks in the first place?

Exactly.

The school day isn't that long, and has a lunch break.

The DC who may not be getting a proper breakfast are almost certainly the same ones who won't be bringing additional food to school for snacks. So if children are to be allowed to eat in school in addition to lunchtime, then making site its available to all and not ultra-processed is a good thing.

GoryBory · 17/09/2023 19:24

• 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

I’m not sure I agree about the snack thing but all the rest are fantastic, especially non uniform days.

As an ex teacher the non uniform days were my absolute worst days.
It would instantly cause a huge divide between the kids who were well off vs the kids who weren’t. And this would last the entire year.

LBOCS2 · 17/09/2023 19:26

So, our school (which is in a fairly affluent area) has a PTA who are aware of the potential for parents who are struggling being excluded. They try and make everything as inclusive as possible, so we have:

  • Xmas jumper bring and buy before Xmas jumper day (you can swap old ones for a bigger size, donate ones your DC have grown out of and/or buy a second hand Christmas jumper for £2)
  • WBD decorate a potato like your favourite book character
  • WBD 'bedtime stories' - kids come in in their PJs/onesies/dressing gown over comfies, bring their favourite, much loved stuffed toy in and they read them bedtime stories
  • a whole class donation for teachers' gifts, in which there's no obligation to donate and you can just send in a message from your child to go on the card
  • termly second hand uniform sales; which are used by everyone so there's no stigma - they're always heaving and it's not just the branded stuff they have, often it's lots of outgrown pinafores/trousers/shirts etc

I'm also thinking about it and I can't remember the last time they asked for anything in actual cash - our old school used to be telling us to bring in £1/£2 coins all the time and we're very rarely asked now!

manontroppo · 17/09/2023 19:27

Sounds great, frankly, and they aren’t necessarily things I would consider obvious poverty proofing.

Our primary has dialled right back on residentials - now every other year and 2 nights instead of 3 (but mixed classes so everyone gets a residential), unlike the school up the road that is still doing £500+ extravaganzas to the Isle of Wight.

User17439824 · 17/09/2023 19:27

Sounds awful, apart from the ridiculous gift for the teacher, which shouldn't be allowed anyway.

SausageinaBun · 17/09/2023 19:31

Our school doesn't allow birthday cake/sweets for healthy eating reasons.

I'd be delighted with no dress up days. Less fussed about non-uniform days, we've forgotten the £1 donation without any repercussions and there doesn't seem to be much competition on clothes.

I'd be pissed off if snacks were banned. My DD isnt great at eating lunch. It's not great, but snacks do keep her going and she'd be unlikely to eat fruit or veg.

Gifts are already optional. When class gifts are organised, they are optional and no one except the organiser knows who gave how much.