Aim
The aim of this policy is to set out what charges will be levied for school activities, external lettings and extended school provision, what remissions will be implemented and the circumstances under which voluntary contributions will be requested from parents/carers.
Responsibilities
The Governing Body of the School is responsible for determining the content of the policy and the headteacher for implementation. Any determinations with respect to individual parents/carers will be considered jointly by the Headteacher and/or governing body.
Charges
The Governing body reserves the right to make a charge in the following circumstances for activities/events organised by the school.
- School Visits in School Hours
- Board and lodging of approved residential activities
- Activities outside of School Hours – The full cost to each pupil of all approved activities deemed as an optional extra
- Music Tuition – The cost to the pupil for providing any instrumental tuition not part of LA peripatetic provision
- Loss or damage to property or equipment – Parents may be asked to contribute towards the cost of lost or damaged reading books or library books. They may be asked to contribute towards the cost of other school equipment or property repairs should this be a result of damage made by their child.
Voluntary Contributions
Nothing in this policy precludes the Governing body from inviting parents/carers to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of additional activities which take place during the school day. Parents/carers are advised that if funds through voluntary contribution are not sufficient to ensure that an activity/event/visit is viable then unfortunately it would have to be cancelled.
Remissions
The Governing body and Headteacher may in some circumstances wish to remit in part or full the cost of a visit/event/activity for a particular group of parents/carers to ensure that no child misses out on curriculum opportunities.
Families whose children are eligible for free school meals/pupil premium will receive a subsidy/discount towards the cost of educational visits. This will be funded through the Pupil Premium strategy and will be 50% of the total cost.
Prohibition of Charges
The Governing Body of the School recognises that the legislation prohibits charges for the following:
- Education provided during school hours (including the supply of any materials, books, instruments or other equipment)
- Education provided outside school hours if it is part of the National Curriculum, or part of a syllabus for a prescribed public examination that the pupil is being prepared for at the school, or part of religious education
- Tuition for pupils learning to play musical instruments if the tuition is required as an essential part of the National Curriculum, or part of a syllabus for a prescribed public examination syllabus being followed by the pupil
- Entry for a prescribed public examination, if the pupil has been prepared for it at the school;
- Education provided on any trip that takes place during school hours
- Education provided on any trip that takes place outside school hours if it is part of the National Curriculum, or part of a syllabus for a prescribed public examination that the pupil is being prepared for at the school, or part of the schools basic curriculum for religious education
- Supply teachers to cover for those teachers who are absent from school accompanying pupils on a residential trip;
- Transporting registered pupils to or from the school premises, where the local education authority has a statutory obligation to provide transport
- Transporting registered pupils to other premises where the governing body or local education authority has arranged for pupils to be educated
- Transport that enables a pupil to meet an examination requirement when he has been prepared for that examination at the school
- Transport provided in connection with an educational visit.
