POLICY FOR CHARGING FOR SCHOOL RELATED ACTIVITIES
The effect of the Education Reform Act 1988 on charging in schools is set out in DfEE Circular 2/89. LEAs and Governing Bodies have a duty to state a policy on charging with effect from 1st April 1989, and until such a policy is stated, no charges may be levied. This document seeks to fulfil that requirement. 
Residential Visits
At this school, all such visits take place wholly outside school hours, and therefore will continue to be funded by parents as before. It is already school policy that no child be excluded on financial grounds alone, and this will continue with remission arrangements for children whose families are on Income Support or who are in receipt of Family Credit in accordance with the requirements of the Act and Circular 2/89. 
Day Visits at least 50% in school time
In accordance with the requirements of the Act and Circular 2/89, these will be funded by voluntary contributions from parents based on the cost per child. If there are insufficient funds forthcoming by this method then either:
i)	the trip will be cancelled OR
ii)	those contributions collected will be returned and the whole cost met from school sources. 
To this end, where proposed visits fall within this category, as part of the information sent out to parents, the following will be included:
Parents are asked to make a voluntary contribution of ‘?. 00 per child for this, which should be sent to the teacher by ?day ? ?th, 19?. Failure to make a contribution in respect of a child will not result in differential treatment of that child, but should too few such contributions be received, the visit may have to be cancelled. 
It is already school policy that no child be excluded on financial grounds alone, and this will continue with remission arrangements for children whose families are on Income Support or who are in receipt of Family Credit in accordance with the requirements of the Act and Circular 2/89. 
Non-Residential Visits at least 50% out of school time
Visits in this category are rare, but examples might be visits to sports events in the evenings or at weekends. These will continue to be funded by parents as before. It is already school policy that no child be excluded on financial grounds alone, and this will continue with remission arrangements for children whose families are on Income Support or who are in receipt of Family Credit in accordance with the requirements of the Act and Circular 2/89. 
Instrumental Music Tuition
This takes place for a few children selected by the LEA’s peripatetic music staff and is given at school in school time. The whole cost is borne by the LEA and this will continue. 
Activities Arranged by Third Parties
The regulations allow for charging for activities which are arranged by outside third parties such as a tour operator etc. Where visits fall into this category, a charge will continue to be made. It is already school policy that no child be excluded on financial grounds alone, and this will continue with remission arrangements for children whose families are on Income Support or who are in receipt of Family Credit in accordance with the requirements of the Act and Circular 2/89. 
This policy should be read in the context of DfEE Circular 2/89 and the LEA’s charging policy. This school policy may be varied by resolution of the Governing Body at any time.