Trips and Requests for Voluntary Contributions

We are really lucky here at Stoneydelph to have extensive grounds and lots to offer locally so we do try to make the most of our local environment and take our children on walks and short visits to places of interest in our local area. Parents are asked to give permission for these visits when they start Stoneydelph Primary School.

There will be times when your child will be invited to go on school trips/visits further afield. Parents will be asked to give consent before children are taken out of the school. All school visits are carefully assessed for Health and Safety risks and we ensure that excellent adult to children ratios are maintained at all times. 


In guidance written by the Department for Education ‘Charging for school activities’ (May 2018) it sets out that a school cannot ‘charge’ parents for any element of the National Curriculum, this includes materials for learning or educational activities. However, governing bodies and local authorities can ask parents for ‘voluntary contributions for the benefit of the school or any school activities’.  In essence, this means that any costly activities can be subsidised by reasonable contributions by parents to enhance the experience of learners at the school. 

The school believes wholeheartedly in the value of these experiences and tries to ensure that these opportunities are accessible and affordable to all.  However, the school does not have the financial resources to pay the full costs and, consequently, a voluntary contribution has to be requested from parents/carers to make up the shortfall. Please note that without all such voluntary contributions, trips and activities may have to be cancelled, due to a lack of funds. 

The school also makes allowance for those who simply cannot afford to contribute and uses some of its Pupil Premium funding to support those who are unable to pay with an additional contribution. The school advises those parents who feel they cannot contribute to discuss this on an individual basis with the Headteacher.  These discussions take place with the utmost discretion and no child will ever be excluded from an activity due to lack of parental contribution.  Should financing a trip be an issue please do not hesitate to contact the school as there may be something they can do to help support you with this.

Please note residential trips are not part of the school curriculum and do not fall under the same criteria. We do our best to also subsidise the residential trips but are unable to offer financial support with these trips.