General Chat

To be perfectly frank DIzzi, the problem isn't in a lack of a grant..it's in the extortionate price of the uniform. I think if your daughter addressed that and kicked up enough of a stink by involving local and national papers then the price WOULD come down to an affordable level.

NO WAY would I pay that..it's daylight robbery.x

**edit** I'm sure a lot of the nationals would be interested in how an Academy school in your area is charging almost double what Eton is for their uniform. Quite happy to do it on your behalf if you send me details.

PS...my 11 yr olds school shoes with a wide fitting also cost over £40..but that's what you get child benefit for imho x

"PS...my 11 yr olds school shoes with a wide fitting also cost over £40..but that's what you get child benefit for imho x"

Agree, my daughters cost around £35 from Clarkes this sept. She has a 40 minute walk each way to school, without the time on her feet during the day.

Always bought good quality shoes for both of mine, did cheap once for my son in yr7 which lasted a month. Never again. His last pair, lasted 18 months, although getting a bit scruffy, they would have lasted a further 6 months if his feet never grew - good old Clarks thick soled mens shoes:-D

Same here. The girls have always had either Start Rite or Clarks...even during our real lean times. No doubt at some time in the future they'll stuff their feet into ill fitting fashion shoes...but at least I will be able to say I tried lol.

Youngests wide fitting Clarks shoes this September would've been a hell of lot cheaper than the £37 I paid without those pesky little dolls in the heel..grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....if only they hadn't been the ones that fit best !!!! x

Can you still get Start rite? I wore those and Clarks (In the 40s/50s) And my two wore them as well (60s/70s) Well worth paying the extra to protect their feet. Then of course I undid all the good by wearing stiletto heels in my teens.

Yes Ann Start Rite are still going. Eldest invariably gets her shoes from there as she prefers the styles to Clarks (though they are usually a tad more expensive) x

My daughter is a single mum to my only grandson. Apart from having her maternity leave, she has never stopped working (although it is part time). She likes to "pay her way" and not sponge off the government like some people do. Not all, but I know quite a few who have no intention of working. She struggles to get by and often has to rob Peter to pay Paul, so is always chasing her tail. The most urgent gets paid first. Her ex-boyfriend in the 4 years I have know him has worked 4 jobs lasting from 1 day to 5 months. The last one was the longest, which he lost just after my grandson was born through lying to his boss about having to go home to help with his baby son. At the same time he was telling my daughter that he was finishing early because there was no work and had sent him home. That was over 3 years ago and he hasn't worked since. He claims job seekers allowance, but as far as I see is not "seeking work". My daughter does not get regular payments from him - she has to demand money if she is unable to buy shoes or something popping up out of the blue - like a dehumidifier because my grandson is now asthmatic! he is a waste of space. Even if he did get a job - he wouldn't keep it. (Moan over). So my daughter struggles on. My grandson has now started nursery and they had a trip to a farm a short while ago and she didn't have the money for him to go. I stepped in and paid the few pounds she needed much to my daughter's discust (she doesn't like handouts). Then when it came to the day, my grandson couldn't go because he was in hospital with an asthma attack! Sods law!

As for the fairness of school trips this is my feeling:- My mum had 5 children, however the years between were large enough for trip dates to vary so she could get the money together. But, I am a twin to my sister and she could never afford to pay for both of us. The way she got round it was to alternate who went on the next trip. We didn't like it, but it was that or not go on any. My mum worked two jobs to make ends meet (and that was with a husband working!) But she always found it if she could. Moving on, I had twins of my own. I used to dread trips coming up as having 3 children under 2 meant I had to give up work so money was tight for me. If I didn't have the money - they didn't go. I had a good relationship with the school and often they would let me pay for one and then pay for the other afterwards - if it were possible. Sometimes, depending on the trip. It was not. Fortunately, my girls were not demanding and understood when I told them I had no money left. I remember some of the mums who were told that there were not enough places for their child to go on the trip, and it was "first come, first serve". They didn't like that I could have two children on the same trip. They actually expected me to say no to one of them!

Things need to be done to help those who cannot pay in full.