Fellside Nursery Matters Issue 33
A glance at the Diary of Events to the end of term in this edition of Fellside Matters gives an indication of just how busy the end of the school year is. Just two days without a significant visit, performance or social event.
Many of our children are ‘out and about’ this term and as ever we expect them to exhibit the highest standards of behaviour and manners.
Last night and today we have received plaudits for Year Four’s performance and exemplary behaviour at a concert at the Sage. Not just from our justifiably proud parents, but Mrs Ducker reports from total strangers and teachers from other schools. Well done Year Four.
Many (not all) of the visits this term require a sometimes considerable parental cash contribution. We are aware that, particularly if you have two or three children in school, this can be an expensive time of year. Indeed this issue has been discussed at governors meetings and by the F.O.F. committee.
There’s a tricky balance here—yes we want our children to experience some of the North East’s unique venues (Vindolanda, Beamish etc.) but costs, particularly transport have rocketed recently. As a school we already subsidise or pay completely for some visits—e.g.. weekly swimming transport. It may be that prior to this time next year we look to extending the school’s contribution to visits. This would impact, of course, on provision in other areas. Be assured we’ll give this issue due consideration.
Please also be aware that no child would ever be excluded from a visit for the inability to pay. If there are insufficient parental contributions a visit cannot actually take place. In reality, experience shows that parents make the full contribution requested for all visits, though in isolated cases of genuine hardship the school has and does discretely help with finance.
