Charges and Remissions
Upton Westlea Primary School believes that learning outside the classroom makes an invaluable contribution to the education of young people. All pupils should have an equal opportunity to benefit from school activities and visits (curricular and extra curricular) independent of their parents’ financial means.
Below is a list of activities for which charges may be made:
1. Activities outside school hours
Activities such as before and after school clubs which take place outside school hours but only if the majority of the time spent on that activity takes place outside school hours.
2. Residential visits
Accomodation, transport and activity costs of residential trips deemed to take place during school time. However, pupils whose parents are in receipt of certain benefits (see remissions section below) may not be charged for accomodation costs.
3. Music tuition
Music tuition for individual pupils or small groups including any associated materials, books, instruments, or equipment, where a parent wishes their child to own them.
4. School Trips
Voluntary contributions are requested for school (day) trips that take place mostly in school time as schools are not allowed to charge for them. If insufficient voluntary contributions are raised to fund a visit, then it may be cancelled.
5. Swimming lessons
Payments are requested to cover the cost of transporting children to the swimming pool.
6. Loss and Damage to School Property
Parents of a pupil who damages or loses any item of school property or equipment may be liable for the costs of repair or replacement.
Remissions
In order to remove financial barriers from disadvantaged pupils, some activities and visits will be offered at no charge or a reduced charge for parents who are in receipt of the following benefits;
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income that does not exceed £16,190.
These criteria usually relate to the family being eligible for free school meals (excluding universal free school meals for KS1 children).
In addition to assist all parents, we aim to provide as much advance notice as possible regarding school trips, especially residential visits. Payments can also be accepted in installments on request.