Staff at Mill of Mains Primary in Dundee know that when fun events at school cost money, there will be some children unable to attend.
“If we do have events that involve a cost then some families will not send children to school on that day. We know from the past that where we have asked for families to buy things (such as pyjamas to wear in school) then it causes some families financial hardship to do that. Therefore we no longer have events that have costs."
"New parents are told about our philosophy on cost of the school day. Some parents found the shift in thought tricky but once this was explained to them they understood.”
“We make sure that events are low or no cost and there are no dress down days or days where children are required to dress up. For Christmas jumpers in December, we allow children to wear a jumper as and when they want to throughout the month. There is not a set day, so that anyone who does not have a jumper does not feel left out. Parents will provide old Christmas jumpers for the school, and some buy multiple Christmas jumpers for the school. A local supermarket also supplied some jumpers. This means that everyone can have a jumper if they want to. We use our PEF money to ensure that everyone can attend the Halloween disco.”