General Chat

My understanding is that parents on low income could have a quiet word with the Headteacher about a trip that was '"part of the National Curriculum" in England or Wales .... as they are not allowed to exclude them through lack of funds.

For other trips - our school's PTA subsidise the trip to kee the costs down.

I am inclined to say that if one child is subsidised then all should be also. When I was chair of PTA we called a meeting for the very same subject and came to the conclusion that if we subsidrd one we subsided all. Its a tricky and very fine line here as one of 6 I didn't always get to do what me mates did. How do you define the more needier pupils? We had a non-working family with a child and a working single parent with twins and a child in the other year group (5/6) -which was more needy? It was agreed that some fundraising would be done to cover the cost of all 60 pupils who would be going (only 60 places available for 82 pupils). We did all sorts and raised enough to subside a third of all pupils - then the school opened in up along with a budget scheme to pay it off in 3 the wants whose parents wanted to go went at a reduced rate those who didn't had been given the same opportunity for refusal. Hope your little one has a great time Muffy.

As far as I'm concerned you can't put a price on a kids happiness cost us nigh on a grand 1st time my daughter went skiing with all the gear, passport etc . We are paying for her third trip now but she would have never got the opportunity to do it with us. Or go abroad.

I can see both sides of this. I haven't always been able to afford to pay for all of the school trips and my kids have to learn they can't have everything. Most of the time I can manage so theyre not too hard done by. I wouldn't mind those kids whose parents can never afford it being helped coz its about the kids not the parents

Don't know how it works now but it used to be that the staff went free as the cost for them was calculated in the payment for the children.

£125 (£10 per month over a year) but it doesn't end there you have the cost of insurance to add and then spending money for the kids it all mounts up. I pity anyone who has twins.

My daughter will definitely be going...I don't think it's an extortinate price for what she'll get out of it...I believe these trips are an important part of growing up and I'd hate for her to miss out...I'm sure I can find ways to trim a couple of quid here and there a week...and let's face it ...I DO smoke so if necessary I'll cut down or stop to make sure gets to go..I don't mind doing that...it's what you SHOULD do. I just wonder how many of those that won't be paying would be prepared to do the same? xx

**edit** I'm SURE there are genuine folk though who have already trimmed down to the bare minimum...and there's no wriggle room. It's those I'd like to see helped...not the ones that just can't be a**ed.

Annie

The staff go free as they HAVE to have a ratioo of xxx staff per xxx children. The staff are expected to go as they are getting paid for their normal school day/s. But its not a holiday for them at all. They are with the children 24/7. Including being on call during the night if they are needed by a child.

Ive gone free on a school day trip...well several. as a staff helper (unpaid apart from my MDA lunchtime wages)

Its hard work. your minds are constantly on the group you are with. But it is fun :o)) I normally come home exhausted, so I can imagine how the teaching staff feel after a few days at an outdoor persuits place. They look worn out as they arrive back home LOL !

Kids have to learn that they cant have whatever they want just because other kids have it

Its a life lesson.

The kids that don't go in our school, normally spend those days mixed in with a few other lessons & normal daily school life, get to do fun activities every day the others are away, say amongst other things, baking cakes one afternoon & taking them round for the staff (making them feel important) and of course eating them themselves :o))

My daughter is in yr 6 (kids are 11 that year & its the last before secondary school ) & is going on the residential trip which cost around £125.

We have been paying in instalments. Its not cheap but its worth the money as its for full board & adventure activities all day long..

However IF we couldn't afford it, my daughter would have had to accept it & miss out.

I think, if fund raising is going on to provide some kids with a free trip, & leaving the others to pay the full whack even if they themselves struggle to raise their own funds (like we do) Then this is wrong.

I agree that monies raised should be used to drop everyones final bill not to just pay for those where (some) parents wont even pay a £1 towards any fund raisers themselves. (not tarring all with the same brush)

My son is in Yr 10, and has never been on a school holiday (more than a day trip) since he left primary. It would have meant no family holiday that year for any of us. He could have gone for four nights to France & Disneyland Paris this year but it would have cost us half the amount we have paid for a shabby room half board for four at Costa De Butlins this year.

He understood as hes been brought up to know if we cant afford it, he cant have it.

And lets face it, most kids parents can afford one of the many day trips the school comes up with. Any trip from around £15 in our school can be made in instalments for those who struggle and for those who don't,.and many smaller trips cost under a tenner, meaning most kids parents can afford to let them go on at least one.

I'd also like to say, those who are NOT on benefits above that poverty line who really cant stretch to paying for a holiday often get overlooked when help is offered as they don't qualify for free this & that & the parents don't think of explaining the situation to the head teacher as they are not used to asking for help as they don't ever get any !

My daughter worked in a boarding school.All trips day trips residential trips all staff went free.All these trips would cost so much less if staff had to pay there way as well.I think all children should go on these trips but as you say it is hard for all parents whether working or not.I think everyone should pay something towards them and school funds pay the rest. Annie

I COULDNT PAY FOR MY DAUGHTERS ,NOW THIS WAS A LONG TIME AGO THINK ABOUT 25 YEARS,BIT OFA ROW WITH SCHOOL
BUT FOR THE COST OF FIVE DAYS FOR HER MEANT THE FAMILY HOLIDAY
FOR 2 ADULTS AND 2 KIDS CANCELLED,
STUCK TO IT REFUSED TO SEND HER,
THEN ONE BY ONE OTHER MUMS CAME TO ME,
THEY COULDNT AFFORD IT,I JUST SAID SEE THE HEAD TEACHER
TURNED OUT,THAT FORTY PLUS CHILDREN EXPECTED TO GO,
ONLY FIVE PARENTS COULD PAY,IT WAS HARD TIMES FOR ALL PARENTS AND STILL IS.
I COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE SO EXPENSIVE
AND USUALY FIVE DAYS

our year 6 holiday is nearly £300 quid .. tis a rip off x

Social skills and confidence? Aren't they educational too? Throw happy memories into the mix and you'll get a 'well rounded' child.

That's not a bad price really. My daughter went on one that cost £75, from memory but that was 2 nights and about 5/6 years ago.

I agree with Teresa about splitting the subsidy equally. Not all parents who work are well off enough to afford something like this. What are they classing as benefits btw? Just income support or are working/child tax credits included? I say this from the pov of someone who was on benefits when my daughter went on her trip. Admittedly her dad helped but I paid at least half of it. We all got given cards and were allowed to make payments over a period of time which made it easier than trying to find it all in one go.

I think these are good for children. Strictly speaking they may not be educational but they are good for children's confidence and social skills.

I agree with Rose - the kids get so much out of these trips, i'ts worth making the sacrifice. They'll remember it for the rest of their lives. It's also hard for them if they can't go with their friends. My children are all grown up now, but I would have bent over backwards financially to let them go (don't take that the wrong way btw!!)

Year six is 10 yr old basically Rose.

Having lived very recently on benefits myself for two months this year...I'd have been able to fund it given enough notice xx

sorry to be dense Muffy, how old is year 6? I've lost track.

I missed out on a school trip to Switzerland when I was 14, there was no way of affording it...did it break my heart? no, would it have given me something worth having? yes I think so.

But even way back then it was a lot more cash, I think £125 is really good,especially as there won't be much required in the way of spending money, and i would have scraped it up somehow if needed. I certainly think if at all possible every child should go...some of those parents who are subsidised could probably afford it, but it is the child not the parents that has to be taken into account I think.

That is cheap.....When my Son was in year 6 the trip was just under £300.....Not sure if it's the same but its called PGL by me

He didn't want to go, but i think he really knew we couldn't afford it, so we paid £50. and he went on day trips & a couple of them i went too

Well perhaps I am just tight...lol

This is where funding is lacking in the benefit system. It's all very well paying a family for living expenses and in no way do I advocate paying extra for booze/drink etc., but the children should have access to a social fund to help with payments in regard to their schooling.

Having said that if I was very well off I wouldn't object to subsidising but if I was earning the national average wage or less I probably would have a moan at stumping up the total £125.00.

I wouldn't like to see any children left out but I can definitely foresee dissention in the parental ranks.

Sue xx

Having missed out on a couple of school trips, one to Austria even, because my parents couldn't afford it, I'd easily say go down the equal reduction for all route. I'm sure refunds can be arranged, if say, so much per month is paid towards it, but funds raised mean overpayments.

These trips are important, my two got so much out of their trips, one to Austria and one to Strasburg, and they both went on the adventure trip to Matlock in the last year of primary school. Neither have ever forgotten it.

It's an adventure holiday come residential trip lasting four days and three nights.

Tbh...sound pretty reasonable to me for 24 hr care and activities....

I'm not sure what the arrangements are re the teachers payment ...but I do know the teachers that go are fantastic and really make it a magical time for the children.(my friends son went two years ago)

So many go feeling very nervous but they come back confident and i believe that helps with their transition into high school the following year.

I remember going on one myself at that age xx

£125 for a school trip sounds rather expensive TBH.

Where is the trip to, how long for and will the children gain knowledge towards their qualifications?

Are the teachers going gratis (that wouldn't surprise me)

Sue x