S3 Charging and remissions policy

Contents

1. Aims. 2

2. Legislation and guidance. 2

3. Definitions. 2

4. Roles and responsibilities. 2

5. Where charges cannot be made. 3

6. Where charges can be made. 4

7. Voluntary contributions. 5

8. Activities we charge for 5

9. Remissions. 5

10. Monitoring arrangements. 6

1. Aims

Our school aims to:

• Have robust, clear processes in place for charging and remissions
• Clearly set out the types of activity that can be charged for and when charges will and will not be made
• Offer a range of activities and visits whilst minimising the financial barriers that may prevent some pupils from taking full advantage of these opportunities

2. Legislation and guidance

This policy is based on advice from the Department for Education (DfE) on charging for school activities and the Education Act 1996, sections 449 to 462 of which set out the law on charging for school activities in England.

It’s also based on guidance from the DfE on statutory policies for schools and academy trusts.

3. Definitions

• Charge: a fee payable for specifically defined activities
• Remission: the cancellation of a charge which would normally be payable

4. Roles and responsibilities

4.1 The governing board

The governing board has overall responsibility for approving the charging and remissions policy but has delegated this to the finance committee.

The Headteacher has overall responsibility for monitoring the implementation of this policy.

4.2 Headteachers

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

Staff are responsible for:

• Implementing the charging and remissions policy consistently
• Notifying the headteacher of any specific circumstances which they are unsure about or where they are not certain if the policy applies
• The school 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 we cannot charge for:

5.1 Education

• Admission applications
• 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
• A syllabus for a prescribed public examination that the pupil is being prepared for at the school
• Religious education

• Instrumental or vocal tuition, for pupils learning individually or in groups, unless the tuition is provided at the request of the pupil’s parent
• Entry for a prescribed public examination if the pupil has been prepared for it at the school
• Examination re-sit(s) if the pupil is being prepared for the re-sit(s) at the school

5.2   Transport

• Transporting registered pupils to or from the school premises, where the local authority has a statutory obligation to provide transport
• Transporting registered pupils to other premises where the governing board or local authority has arranged for pupils to be educated
• Transport that enables a pupil to meet an examination requirement when he or she has been prepared for that examination at the school
• Transport provided in connection with an educational visit

5.3   Residential visits

Not applicable at Maytree Infant School as we do not do residential visits.

6. Where charges can be made

Below we set out what we can charge for:

6.1   Education

• Any materials, books, instruments or equipment, where the child’s parent wishes him or her to own them
• Optional extras (see section 6.2)
• Music and vocal tuition, in limited circumstances (see section 6.3)
• Certain early years provision
• Community facilities
•  

6.2   Optional extras

We are able to charge for activities known as ‘optional extras’. In these cases, schools can charge for providing materials, books, instruments or equipment. The following are optional extras:

• Education provided outside of school time that is not part of:

• The National Curriculum
• A syllabus for a prescribed public examination that the pupil is being prepared for at the school
• Religious education

• Transport (other than transport that is required to take the pupil to school or to other premises where the local authority or governing board has arranged for the pupil to be provided with education)
• Extended day services offered to pupils (such as breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, tea and supervised homework sessions)
• If a home-loan book is lost or badly damaged, we ask for a voluntary contribution of £10.00 towards its replacement.   Wilful damage by children to small items of school equipment is sometimes followed by a requirement that the child pay for its replacement.

When calculating the cost of optional extras, an amount may be included in relation to:

• Any materials, books, instruments or equipment provided in connection with the optional extra
• The cost of buildings and accommodation
• Non-teaching staff
• Teaching staff engaged under contracts for services purely to provide an optional extra (including supply teachers engaged specifically to provide the optional extra)

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 provisions 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

Schools 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.

7. Voluntary contributions

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 which would not otherwise be possible.

Some activities for which the school may ask parents for voluntary contributions include:

The school may ask for voluntary contributions for, e.g. school trips, sports activities and nursery snacks.

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 we charge for

The school will charge for the following activities:

School trips on-site and off-site

Nursery food snacks

Damage

For each activity, explain how the charge is calculated. For example, does the charge include transport, building or insurance costs.

9. Remissions

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

Not applicable at Maytree Infant School as we do not do residential visits.

• When organising school visits which enrich the curriculum and educational experience of the children, the school will write to parents asking them to contribute towards the cost. If a visit cannot take place without some help from parents or carers, this will be explained at the planning stage.
• No pupil will be left out because a voluntary contribution has not been received.  Children in receipt of the pupil premium grant will not be asked to pay for a visit. However, if there are insufficient contributions, the school may be left with no choice but to cancel the visit. Parents or carers who have contributed would then receive a refund, less any expense that has already been committed. If a child is unable to take part in any visit or activity through illness, then a refund would be issued, less any expenses that have already been committed.
• 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. 
• The school will always seek to achieve “best value principles” for all the activities in school. All staff are conscious of the rising costs of education and family budgets and will always try to attempt to keep costs to a minimum.
• Governors have agreed to subsidise trips at their discretion.

10. Monitoring arrangements

The Headteacher monitors charges and remissions and ensures these comply with this policy.

This policy will be reviewed by the Headteacher annually.

At every review, the policy will be approved by the Finance committee.