Parent debt 'damaging education'

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Parents who do not settle school bills for their children's care at breakfast and after-school clubs are jeopardising pupils' education, head teachers say.

The National Association of Head Teachers said growing non-payment of bills was leading to budget shortfalls, forcing schools to cut activities.

Some schools say they have not ruled out legal action to reclaim the money.

Ministers argue help is available for parents and the use of the courts to recover debts should be a last resort.

Schools are encouraged to utilise their buildings outside of regular hours, but much of the cost of providing "wrap-around care" has to be met by parents.

Breakfast and after-school clubs are subsidised by the government, but cost parents between 50p and £10 per session.

'Money not forthcoming'

Simon Emsley, head teacher of Lakeside Community Primary School in Derby, said parents owed his school £4,500 for nursery fees and its other morning and evening clubs.

The school has had to cancel outings because of the shortfall, he said, and he is considering possible legal action to try to recover the money.

"Where we feel children are coming from families that can pay and this money is not forthcoming, we will go to any measure that we feel appropriate with that particular family," Mr Emsley said.

"I don't actually feel that people always realise just the impact that they are having by their non-payment."

If the school finances are under pressure, then the school has to take that money from other resources Dr Chris Howard, NAHT

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), which represents heads in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said the school was not alone and similar shortfalls were putting stress on other small schools and jeopardising other extra-curricular activities.

Dr Chris Howard, president of the NAHT, said: "It's a problem and will get worse.

"If the school finances are under pressure, then the school has to take that money from other resources.

"So parents who won't pay are, in fact, cutting the activities and hindering the education of their own children and others in the school."

Parents 'struggling'

On average it costs the parents of children in state schools £683 per primary pupil and £1,200 per secondary pupil every year, according to the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

This covers the cost of uniforms, school trips, school dinners and voluntary contributions.

But nearly four in 10 parents say they find it difficult to meet these costs of schooling, before the cost of pre- and after-school activities is even taken into account.

Margaret Morrissey, of campaign group Parents Outloud, said although it was wrong for parents not to pay, in the current economic climate many were struggling with bills.

"We all know when things are tight you slip the payment once and you get into a dilemma, so I think we have to show a little bit of human kindness now," she said.

"We have got to say 'you have got into a mess, you are not able to resolve it but in future there will be no clubs until you have paid for them'."

The government said it accepted economic conditions were difficult for parents, but said it was paying £1bn pounds in England for extended school services up to 2011.

It also said there were measures in place to help those who could not pay and the use of bailiffs or courts to recover unpaid debts should be used only as a last resort.