King Street Primary School

Charging and Remissions Policy

Policy Review Date: November 2023

Introduction.
The Head Teacher and Governing Body recognises the value of providing a wide range of Experiences and activities to enhance learning and to contribute to their personal development. The Head Teacher and Governing Body aims to promote and provide such experiences for the pupils of the school, both as part of a broad and balanced curriculum and as additional optional activities.
However, many of these activities have an associated cost and cannot be provided unless voluntary contributions are received or parents are charged for the cost.
This policy will set out the circumstances in which charges will or will not be made for school activities and when charges may be waived in order to ensure that all pupils have an equal opportunity to benefit from school visits, curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Statement:
The policy complies with the requirements of the Education Act 1996
Where parent is referred to this includes adults with responsibility for the pupil.
We aim:-
•	To make school activities accessible to all pupils regardless of family income
•	To encourage and promote external activities which give added value to the curriculum
•	To provide a process which allows activities to take place at a minimum cost to parents, pupils and the school
•	To respond to the wide variations in family income while not adding additional unexpected burdens to the school budget.
Legislation – Educational During School Hours
The DfE in its guidance to School Governors states that

 “Education provided during school hours must be free.” The definition of “Education” includes materials, equipment and transport  provided in school hours by school to carry pupils between the school and an activity.  

It goes on to advise that “although schools cannot charge for school time activities, they can still invite parents and others to make voluntary contributions (in cash or in kind)”
When additional costs are incurred to enhance the curriculum opportunities for the pupils, parents may be requested to make voluntary contributions. However, no pupil will be left out of an activity because his or her parents cannot or will not make a contribution of any kind.
Education Outside School Hours
The DfE in its guidance to School Governors states that “parents can only be charged for activities that happen outside school hours when these activities are not a necessary part of the national curriculum or religious education. No charge can be made for activities that are an essential part of the syllabus for an approved examination. Charges may be made for other activities that happen outside school hours if parents agree to pay. The Education Reform Act
1988 described activities, which can be charged for as “optional extras”.
Remissions
To ensure that access to activities reflects intentions, King Street Primary School will implement the following Remissions Policy. The fundamental aim of this policy is to ensure that all pupils gain fully from everything that the school is able to offer them and is based on an understanding of the relationship between low income, entitlement and access. This policy takes into account the very real and persistent difficulties which people on low income have in meeting the costs of educational activities for their children.

Where a child is in receipt of free school meals because parents are in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance, Support under part IV of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999 or Child Tax Credit (provided that Working Tax Credit is not also received), the Governing Body will observe its statutory requirement to remit in full the cost of “board and lodgings” element of any residential activity that the school organises for pupils if the activity is deemed to take place within school hours. Parents are invited to apply in confidence for each residential in writing to the Head teacher.
There may be cases of family hardship which make it difficult for pupils to take part in other particular activities for which a charge is made. When arranging a chargeable activity the Governing Body will invite parents to apply in confidence to the school manager for the remission of charges in part or in full. Authorisation of remission will be made by the Head Teacher.
Data Protection of pupils and families.
Staff will ensure that these children are not publicly identified and stigmatised. This is particularly important as the fear of stigmatisation is often a key element in the non-take up of financial support or free school meals. 
Voluntary contributions may be requested to help with providing activities even though they may be part of the normal school day or part of the National Curriculum.
If voluntary contributions are requested for an activity it should be clearly understood that there is no obligation to contribute and that if the parent is unable or unwilling to pay, the child will not be excluded from the activity.
If sufficient contributions are not received the activity may be cancelled. 
Charges: 
The Governing Body reserves the right to make a charge for the activities and items detailed below:
•	Trips which are not part of the school curriculum or are outside the school day (i.e. Weekend residential)
•	After school and pre-school clubs and activities
•	Music tuition if it is not required for the National Curriculum and is provided for an individual pupil or for groups of pupils.
•	Damage to school property - the cost of replacing any item, such as a broken window or defaced, damaged or lost book, where this is a result of a pupils behavior.
•	Visits to school by professionals e.g. Authors, storytellers, musicians, dancers, artists etc.
•	Damage to school books (Reading scheme)
•	Childcare
School Meals
•	Governors will set the daily charge annually for the meals provided to pupils at lunchtime.  This charge will be linked to the cost incurred by the school and the catering provider.  The school will seek advice from the catering provider as to what constitutes a reasonable charge to pupils and adults.  
•	The school will provide a free school meals for pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 under the Governments Universal Free School Meals Initiative. 
•	Pupils will be provided with a free school meal where parents or pupils are in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance, Support under part IV of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999 or Child Tax Credit (provided that Working Tax Credit is not also received) 
Breakfast & After School Childcare
•	The school operates breakfast and after school childcare throughout term time, the governors will set the daily charge on an annual basis to ensure the cost of running the provision is covered by the number of children attending.  The childcare provision will be staffed in line with the number of children attending.
Individual Music Tuition
•	Charges may be made to parents for individual tuition in playing any musical instrument, even if such tuition takes place during school hours. Parental agreement and a signed contract will be obtained before the tuition is provided.
Ingredients or Materials for Practical Subjects
•	The Governing Body may charge for, at cost or less, or require the supply of, ingredients and materials if parents have indicated, in advance, their wish to own the finished product.
Lost School Equipment, Books etc
•	Parents will be expected to replace or pay for the cost of lost items of School property.
Breakages and Damage to School Buildings, Furniture or Property
•	Parents will be charged for damage caused as a result of a pupil's behaviour.
Residential Activity
•	The DfE in its guidance to School Governors states that for a residential activity taking place largely during school time, or essential to the education provided at the school, no charge may be made for either the education or the costs of the travel, However, charges will be made for board and lodging element of the visit, unless the child is entitled to free school meals. A voluntary contribution will be requested by the school for such activities.
•	As the residential activities in King Street Primary School are not compulsory and pupils have the choice to stay in school or attend the residential. 
•	To assist families where parents are in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance, Support under part IV of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999 or Child Tax Credit (provided that Working Tax Credit is not also received), the Governing Body will observe its statutory requirement to pay the cost of any educational activities and the transport element of any residential activity that the school organises for pupils if the activity is deemed to take place within school hours. Parents are invited to apply for financial support for residential in writing to the school manager

 (King Street Primary School will follow the relevant legislation as contained in the Education Reform Act 1988: Section 106 ± 111,117, and 118. The guidance is contained in the DCSF circular 2/89: Charges for School Activities).
Private fees
•	Any report or data that is requested on a child for the purpose of a third party private assessment requested by a parent (eg. Mid year pupil progress report for solicitors, private psychologist reports or solicitor reports) will be charged at an agreed rate by the Head Teacher in discussion with the Chair or Vice-chair of Governors. This rate will include a cost for staff time to sort and collate the relevant information (not less than £10 per hour) as well as postage.
The Governing Body may, from time to time, amend the categories of activity for which a charge may be made.
Nothing in this policy statement precludes the Governing Body from inviting parents to make voluntary contribution towards the cost of providing education for pupils.

King Street Primary School
Charges and Remissions policy
Application for Financial Support	
Name of Pupil		Class		
Home Address

	Date of Birth 

Parents Name		Parents contact number 		
				
Details of visit 

	
Cost of visit
	£	Amount requested from school 
	£	
I confirm that I am in receipt of the above benefits and entitled to free school meals and wish to apply for help with the “board and lodgings, education and transport” elements of the residential
Parent signature                                      Date