Charging and Remissions Policy
WATERGATE SCHOOL CHARGING and REMISSIONS POLICY
Status Statutory
Purpose
The purpose of the policy is to ensure that, during the school day, all children have full and free access to a broad and balanced curriculum.
The school day for pupils is defined as 9:15am until 3:30pm Monday to Friday.
What was consulted? The policy has been informed by A Guide to the Law for School Governors.
Relationship to other school policies: The policy complements the school’s equal opportunities policy, curriculum policy and teaching and learning policy.
Roles and responsibilities of headteacher, other staff, governors
The headteacher will ensure that the following applies:
During the school day
All activities that are a necessary part of the National Curriculum plus religious education will be provided free of charge. This includes any materials, equipment and transport to take pupils between the school and the activity.
Voluntary contributions may be sought for activities during the school day which entail additional costs, for example entry to exhibitions.
In these circumstances no pupil will be prevented from participating because his/her parents cannot or will not make a contribution.
Optional activities outside of the school day
We will charge for optional, extra activities provided outside of the school day, for example school residential trips. Such activities are not part of the National Curriculum or religious education, nor are they part of an examination syllabus.
Residentials
Charges will be made for board and lodging, except for pupils whose parents are in receipt of Income Support, Family Credit, Disability Working Allowance or an income- based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Other charges will be made to cover costs when the number of school sessions missed by the pupils totals half or more of the number of half-days taken up by the activity. In such cases parents will be told how the charges were calculated.
School mini-bus
The school mini-buses are used solely for educational purposes for pupils, and no charge is made for their use.
Calculating charges
When charges are made for any activity, whether during or outside of the school day, they will be based on the actual costs incurred, divided by the total number of pupils participating. There will be no levy on those who can pay to support those who can’t. Support for cases of hardship will come through voluntary contributions and fundraising.
Parents who would qualify for support are those who are in receipt of Income Support, Family Credit, Disability Working Allowance or an income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
The principles of best value will be applied when planning activities that incur costs to the school and/or charges to parents.
Arrangements for monitoring and evaluation
The Resources and Estates Committee of the governing body will monitor the impact of this policy by receiving on an annual financial report on those activities that resulted in charges being levied, the subsidies awarded (without giving names) and the source of those subsidies.