Charging and remissions policy
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
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.
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.
4.2 The headteacher
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
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
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 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)
Education provided outside school hours if it is part of:
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 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
5.3 Residential visits
Education provided on any visit that takes place during school hours
Education provided on any visit that takes place outside school hours if it is part of:
Supply teachers to cover for those teachers who are absent from school accompanying pupils on a residential visit
Below 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
Optional extras (see below)
Music and vocal tuition, in limited circumstances
Certain early years provision
Community facilities
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:
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 and lodging for a pupil on a residential visit
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
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)
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
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 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
6.4 Residential visits
We can charge for board and lodging on residential visits, but the charge must not exceed the actual cost.
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.
Some activities for which the school may ask parents for voluntary contributions include:
e.g. school trips, visitors to school, sports activities, etc.
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.
However if the school is unable to raise enough funds for an activity or visit then it will be cancelled.
8. Activities this school charges for
The school will charge for the following activities:
e.g. breakfast club, some after-school and sports clubs.
For regular activities, the charges for each activity will be determined by the governing board and reviewed in each year. Parents will be informed of the charges for the coming year in September each year.
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 Headteacher and will depend on the activity in question.
9.1 Remissions for residential visits
Parents who can prove they are in receipt of the following benefits will be exempt from paying the cost of board and lodging for residential visits:
Universal credit in prescribed circumstances
Income Support
Income Based Jobseekers Allowance
Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Child Tax Credit, provided that Working Tax Credit is not also received and the family’s income (as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) does not exceed £16,105
The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
An income related employment and support allowance that was introduced on 27 October 2008
10. Monitoring arrangements
The Headteacher will monitor 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 governing board.
For 2018 – 2019 the following charges will be made for peripatetic music tuition:
Music Tuition Charges for 2017 – 2018:
Charges for Standon Bowers:
Reviewed: June 2018
To be reviewed: July 2019