Last Reviewed: | Summer 2019 | Next Review: | Summer 2020 |
Committee Responsibility: | Finance and Personnel committee | Approved on: | Summer 2019 |
Approved By: | Governing Body |
Contents
2. Legislation and guidance. 3
4. Roles and responsibilities. 3
5. Where charges cannot be made. 4
6. Where charges can be made. 5
8. Activities this school charges for 6
10. Monitoring arrangements. 7
Our school aims to:
This policy is based on advice from the Department for Education (DfE) on charging for school activities and the Education Act 1996, sections 449-462 of which set out the law on charging for school activities in maintained schools in England.
4.1 The governing board
The governing board has overall responsibility for approving the charging and remissions policy, but can delegate this to a committee, an individual governor or the headteacher.
The governing board also has overall responsibility for monitoring the implementation of this policy.
In our school, responsibility for approving the charging and remissions policy has been delegated to the finance and personnel committee
4.2 The headteacher
The headteacher is responsible for ensuring staff are familiar with the charging and remissions policy, and that it is being applied consistently.
4.3 Staff
Our staff are responsible for:
The Head Teacher will provide staff with appropriate training in relation to this policy and its implementation.
4.4 Parents
Parents are expected to notify staff or the headteacher of any concerns or queries regarding the charging and remissions policy.
5. Where charges cannot be made
Below we set out what the school cannot charge for:
5.1 Education
5.2 Transport
5.3 Residential visits
Below we set out what the school can charge for.
6.1 Education
6.2 Optional extras
We are able to charge for activities known as ‘optional extras’. In these cases, the school can charge for providing materials, books, instruments or equipment. The following are optional extras:
When calculating the cost of optional extras, an amount may be included in relation to:
Any charge made in respect of individual pupils will not be greater than the actual cost of providing the optional extra activity, divided equally by the number of pupils participating.
Any charge will not include an element of subsidy for any other pupils who wish to take part in the activity but whose parents are unwilling or unable to pay the full charge.
In cases where a small proportion of the activity takes place during school hours, the charge cannot include the cost of alternative provision for those pupils who do not wish to participate.
Parental agreement is necessary for the provision of an optional extra which is to be charged for.
6.3 Music tuition
The school can charge for vocal or instrumental tuition provided either individually or to groups of pupils, provided that the tuition is provided at the request of the pupil’s parent.
Charges may not exceed the cost of the provision, including the cost of the staff giving the tuition.
Charges cannot be made:
6.4 Residential visits
We can charge for board and lodging on residential visits, but the charge must not exceed the actual cost.
As an exception to the requirements set out in section 5 of this policy, the school is able to ask for voluntary contributions from parents to fund activities during school hours which would not otherwise be possible.
Some activities for which the school may ask parents for voluntary contributions include: school trips, or sports activities.
There is no obligation for parents to make any contribution, and no child will be excluded from an activity if their parents are unwilling or unable to pay. If the school is unable to raise enough funds for an activity or visit then it will be cancelled.
8. Activities this school charges for
The school will charge for the following activities: breakfast, after-school and sports clubs. Charges are calculated to cover staffing costs, cost of food and drinks that are available for the children, cost of additional materials for activities.
For regular activities, the charges for each activity will be determined by the governing board and reviewed in March each year. Parents will be informed of the charges for the coming year in July each year.
In some circumstances the school may not charge for items or activities set out in sections 6 and 8 of this policy. This will be at the discretion of the governing board and will depend on the activity in question.
9.1 Remissions for residential visits
Parents who can prove they are in receipt of the following benefits will be exempt from paying the full cost of board and lodging for residential visits:
The Head teacher monitors charges and remissions,and ensures these comply with this policy.
This policy will be reviewed by the Finance and Personnel committee every year. At every review, the policy will be approved by the Finance and Personnel committee.