Purpose

The purpose of the policy is to ensure that, during the school day, all children have full and free access to a broad and balanced curriculum.  The school day is defined as: 8:50- 15:30.  The policy has been informed by A Guide to the Law for School Governors.

Relationship to other school policies

The policy complements the school’s equal opportunities policy, curriculum policy and teaching and learning policy.

During the school day

All activities that are a necessary part of the National Curriculum plus religious education will be provided free of charge. This includes any materials, equipment and transport to take pupils between the school and the activity. It excludes charges made for teaching individual pupils or groups of pupils to play a musical instrument.

Voluntary Contributions

Voluntary contributions may be sought for activities during the school day, which entail additional costs, eg. Swimming lessons.

In these circumstances no pupil will be prevented from participating because he/her parents cannot or will not make a contribution. Children of parents who do not make a contribution will not be treated any differently. If a particular activity cannot take place without some help from parents, this will be explained at the planning stage. An activity may be cancelled if not enough voluntary contributions are collected.

From time to time we may invite a non-school based organisation such as a theatre company or a sports specialist to arrange an activity during the school day. Such organisations may wish to charge parents, who may, if they wish, ask the headteacher to agree to their child being withdrawn from that activity for that period but alternative arrangement will be made for that child. Provisions will be put in place in school as the child is still expected to attend school within school hours.

Optional activities outside of the school day

We will charge for optional, extra activities provided outside of the school day, such as the Yr 5 & 6 residential.  Such activities are not part of the National Curriculum or religious education, nor are they part of an examination syllabus.

Education partly during the school day

If a non-residential activity happens partly inside the school day and partly outside of it, there will be no charge if most of the time to be spent on the activity falls within the school day. Conversely, if the bigger proportion of time spent falls outside of the normal school day, charges will be made. When such activities are arranged parents will be told how the charges were calculated.

Residentials

Charges will be made for board and lodging, except for pupils whose parents are in receipt of eligible benefits.

School mini-bus

A small charge will be incurred for the use of the minibus and will be calculated according to the mileage, and approximate cost of wear and tear to the bus.  This will be at a cost of £2 per child per trip.

Calculating charges

When charges are made for any activity, whether during or outside of the school day, they will be based on the actual costs incurred, divided by the total number of pupils participating. There will be no levy on those who can pay to support those who can’t. Support for cases of hardship will come through voluntary contributions and fundraising.

Parents who would qualify for support are those who are in receipt of eligible benefits. The principles of best value will be applied when planning activities that incur costs to the school and/or charges to parents.

 

Eligible benefits as of March 2016

Income Support;

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance;

Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;

Child Tax Credit, provided the parent is not entitled to Working Tax Credit and their annual income does not exceed £16,040 for the year 2009-10.

Guarantee element of State Pension Credit; and

An income-related reemployment

 

Further Guidance and Reference to Legislation

Governors Guide to the Law, Chapter 23 – Charging for School activities