oh - you know how I was going to write a letter of complain to DS1's Junior school (about notice for money etc).............

[FAQinglovely]

well - you'll never guess what he brought home in his bag on Friday

A letter giving us advanced warning of 3 trips/in school activities that they'll be asking for money for.

One on 1st May, one 24th June and another 10th July

Giving us an opportunity to get a "saving card" with them and save up.

Now I won't be using the savings card, - as I've got plenty of notice about all 3 things so I can plan ahead. But that they may actually have been listening after all.

Still monitoring the other situation (with regards to "we'll take them there but you come and pick them up afterwards and if you can't tough shit" (well not literally - but that's the attitude I've had so far) but this is a big step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned with the money side of my complaints.

...so they do listen...

You don't have to pay for any school trips that are in school time, they are voluntary contributions and should be worded like that in the letters home to parents, and yes if no one paid the trip couldn't go ahead and yes, people who do pay are subsidising those who don't, but a school cannot legally refuse to take your child on the trip because you haven't paid. lots of people can't afford money for a trip to the zoo or wherever especially if they have more than one child in the school. I work in the office of a primary school.

handsomeharry - I know I don't legally have to.

I was having "issues" with them over a couple of things related to this - have posted before about it, and had been compiling a "list" in order to write a strongly worded letter about it.

FAQ - perhaps you should include a paragraph in your letter (about the after school trips not returning to school etc) commenting on the letter about trips and saying how much you appreciate the warning etc etc etc!

Yes I think I will do - will show my appreciation that they've finally listened to people requesting early warning

It also means that your letter can come out more balanced (ie highlighting positives as well as negatives)- and specifically acknowledge the benefit of this small change that they have implemented - how often do you think that people write in to say thank you for this sort of thing?!