Charging & Remissions Policy
Policy reviewed: May 2015
Ratified June 2015
Introduction
This policy has been formulated in accordance with Authority’s guidance on Charging for School Activities.
Aim
The aim of this policy is to set out what charges will be levied for activities, what remissions will be implemented and the circumstances under which voluntary contributions will be requested from parents.
Responsibilities
The Governing Body of the School are responsible for determining the content of the policy and the Headteacher for implementation. Any determinations with respect to individual parents will be considered jointly by the Headteacher and Governing Body.
Prohibition of Charges
The Governing Body of the School recognise 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 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;
- 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 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 provided in connection with an educational trip.
Publication of Information
A copy of this policy will be available in the school office and included on the school website which will specify what charges are/are not to be made and for which activities voluntary contributions will be invited from parents.
Charges
The Governors reserve the right to make a charge for the following:
(a) Board and lodging on residential visits (not to exceed the costs)
(b) The proportionate costs for an individual child of activities wholly or mainly outside school hours (‘optional extras’) to meet the costs for:
(i) Travel
(ii) Materials and equipment
(iii) Non-teaching staff costs
(iv) Entrance fees
(v) Insurance costs
(c) Individual tuition in the playing of a musical instrument
(d) Re-sits for public examinations where no further preparation has been provided by the school
(e) Costs of non-prescribed examinations where no further preparation has been provided by the school
(f) Any other education, transport or examination fee unless charges are specifically prohibited
(g) Breakages and replacements as a result of; damages caused wilfully or negligently by pupils or losses. This includes lost books and Respect badges.
(h) Extra-curricular activities and school clubs.
The school operates a healthy snack café within classes, appropriate charges are applied on a per item basis.
Remissions
Children whose parents are in receipt of the following support payments will, in addition to having a free school lunch entitlement, also be entitled to the remission of charges for board and lodging costs during residential school trips. The relevant support payments are:
a) Income Support;
b) Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance;
d) Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;
e) Child Tax Credit, where the parent is not entitled to Working Tax
Credit and whose annual income (as assessed by The Inland
Revenue) does not exceed £15,575 (effective for 2008-9 Financial Year).
In respect of (e) above account will be taken of any revision to the amount as advised by the Authority.
Charges for other ‘chargeable activities’ may also be fully or partially remitted. Details of any remission arrangements will be made clear when parents are informed of charges for individual activities.
Voluntary Contributions
The Parents are invited to make an annual voluntary contribution of £15 for the provision of:
- Educational visits - entrance fees and transport,
- Specialist workshops or performances from outside agencies taking place at the school that are a paid for from school budget.
The terms of any request made to parents will specify that the request for a voluntary contribution in no way represents a charge. In addition the following will be made clear to parents:
a) That the contribution is genuinely voluntary and a parent is under no obligation to pay;
b) That registered pupils at the school will not be treated differently according to whether or not their parents have made any contribution in response to the request; and
c) If the costs become unmanageable for the school then visits/workshops may need to be cancelled.
The responsibility for determining the level of voluntary contribution is delegated to the Headteacher.