Charging Policy
1 Introduction
1.1 All the education we provide during normal school hours is at no charge to pupils. We do not charge for any activity undertaken as part of the National Curriculum, with the exception of some voluntary individual or small-group music tuition.
2 Voluntary contributions
2.1 When organising school trips or visits to enrich the curriculum and the educational experience of the children, the school invites parents to contribute to the cost. All contributions are voluntary. If we do not receive sufficient voluntary contributions, we may cancel a trip. If a trip goes ahead, it may include children whose parents have not paid any contribution. We do not treat these children differently from any others.
2.2 If a parent wishes their child to take part in a school trip or event, but is unwilling or unable to make a voluntary contribution, we do allow the child to participate fully in the trip or activity. Sometimes the school pays additional costs in order to support the visit. Parents have a right to know how each trip is funded, and the school can provide this information on request.
2.3 The following is a list of possible additional activities, organised by the school, which may require voluntary contributions from parents. These activities are known as 'optional extras'. This list is not exhaustive:
• visits to museums;
• sporting activities which require transport expenses;
• outdoor adventure activities;
• visits to or by a theatre company;
• school trips abroad;
• musical events.
3 Residential visits
3.1 If the school organises a residential visit in school time, or mainly in school time, which is to provide education directly related to the National Curriculum we suggest a charge to cover the costs of board and lodging. If we cannot raise sufficient funding through these voluntary contributions, the visit may have to be cancelled, and that aspect of the curriculum would have to be covered in other ways.
4 Music tuition
4.1 All children study music as part of the normal school curriculum. We do not charge for this.
4.2 There is a charge for individual or small-group music tuition, since this is an additional curriculum activity, and not part of the National Curriculum. These individual or small-group lessons are taught by peripatetic music teachers. We make a charge for these lessons, but parents in receipt of state benefits are exempt from payment. We give parents information about additional music tuition at the start of each academic year.
5 Swimming
5.1 The school organises swimming lessons for all children in Key Stage 2. These take place in school time and are part of the National Curriculum. We make no charge for this activity. We inform parents when these lessons are to take place, and parents are expected to provide the required kit, including swimming hat where applicable.
6 Sporting Activities
6.1 The school may sometimes offer additional sports coaching after school, run by coaches who are not part of school staff. We may make a small charge for these sessions.
7 Minibus, bus or coach travel
7.1 We may charge if children are transported in a minibus, bus or coach for extra-curricular activity. However, we use these charges only to cover the expenses of the trip, and not to make a profit.
Mrs Louise Oates
Headteacher
Reviewed October 2022