Collingwood Primary School – Charging and Remissions Policy September 2022

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 be made

1.  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 449-462 of which set out the law on charging for school activities in maintained schools in England.

1. 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 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.

 4.2 The headteacher is responsible for ensuring staff are familiar with the charging and remissions policy, and that it is being applied consistently.

 4.3 Our 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 senior leadership team will provide staff with appropriate training in relation to this policy and its implementation.

4.4  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, we set out what the school cannot charge for:

 5.1 Education Admission applications. Education provided during school hours (including the supply of any materials, books, instruments or other equipment) Instrumental or vocal tuition, for pupils learning individually or in groups, unless the tuition is provided at the request of the pupil’s parent

5.2 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.

 6. Where charges can be made, we set out what the school can charge for.

 6.1 Education - Any materials, books, instruments or equipment, where the child’s parent wishes him or her to own them. The Governing Body reserves the right to request payment from parents where their children have caused breakages or damage to school property when this is as a result of the student’s behaviour. Optional extras (see below) Music and vocal tuition, in limited circumstances.  Certain early years provision and wrap around care. Community facilities (The Governing Body reserves the right to let internal and external areas of the school for community and public use. The lettings fees charged will at a minimum reflect any expenses incurred for running and staffing costs. These are outlined in our separate Lettings Policy).

 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: 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 Examination entry fee(s) if the registered pupil has not been prepared for the examination(s) at the school/ Transport (other than transport that is required to take the pupil to school or to other premises where the local authority/governing board has arranged for the pupil to be provided with education)/ Board, transport and lodging for a pupil on a residential visit. This includes activity costs and instructor charges incurred. Extended day services offered to pupils (such as breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, tea and supervised homework sessions) 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, such as those used during extra-curricular clubs ran by staff 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) The cost, or an appropriate proportion of the costs, for teaching staff employed to provide tuition in playing a musical instrument, or vocal tuition, where the tuition is an optional extra 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: If the teaching is an essential part of the national curriculum If the teaching is provided under the first access to the Key Stage 2 instrumental and vocal tuition programme For a pupil who is looked after by a local authority if funding can be found elsewhere

6.4 Residential visits - We can charge for transport, board, catering and lodging on residential visits, this may include activity costs and instructor charges incurred. Parents will be notified of any additional charges before payments are requested. Education provided on any visit that takes place outside of school hours is booked at the request of parents. Discounts may be offered for pupil premium and Looked After Children, who wish to attend residential visits. Charges may also be applied due to cancelation at parents’  request. The amount will differ depending on the amounts stipulated in the visit payment schedule.

 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 during school hours which would not otherwise be possible, such as school visits, workshops and visitors. There is no obligation for parents to make any contribution, and no child will be excluded from an activity if their parents are unable to pay. If the school is unable to raise enough funds for an activity or visit then it will be cancelled and money paid will be refunded.

 8. Remissions –

 In some circumstances the school may not charge for items or activities set out in sections 6 of this policy. This will be at the discretion of the governing board and will depend on the activity in question.

This policy will be reviewed biannually by the Governing Body Resources Sub-Committee.