Give feedback on this pageIn accordance with statutory requirements, the LEA must have a remissions policy to assist eligible pupils in their attendance on residential school visits / activities which are curriculum related and require incurring the cost of over night board and lodging.
The Education Reform Act 1988 section 106 (10) gives the following definition for such visits / activities:
106 (10) In this Chapter ‘residential trip’ means any trip:
(a) which is arranged for registered pupils at any maintained school by or on behalf of the governing body or the local education authority; and
(b) which requires the pupils taking part to spend one or more nights away from their usual overnight accommodation.
Eligibility requirements of the activity:
The residential visit / activity must be clearly defined within the National Curriculum Programme of Study, the syllabus of a prescribed public examination or the National Curriculum requirements for Religious Education as being a essential component which makes it necessary for all pupils within the class / group to attend.
The residential visit or Activity must take place during the school week Monday to Friday (though some trips maybe available for weekends through the Thomas Howell fund, but this is dependent on the money available.)
Eligibility requirements of the Pupils, Parents / Guardians:
The parent / legal guardian of the pupil must be in receipt of Income Support, Pension Credit (Guaranteed NOT saving,) Job Seekers Allowance (Income based) or Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) with an annual income of less than £14,495, in respect of the period that the residential visit /activity is taking place and must furnish proof of such Benefits as may be requested by the LEA.
Payment to be made:
Remission payments will be restricted to the reimbursement of the actual board and lodging cost incurred by eligible pupils taking part in approved residential activities. Additional costs such as transport, entrance fees, equipment hire etc. will not be reimbursed.
If the visit / activity does not meet the requirements of the LEAs remission policy then no assistance towards the cost can be offered by the LEA.
Application procedures to be followed:
Form A General Consent Form: Schools will require all parents / guardians to complete a Form A in respect of each and every pupil at the time they enrol. A copy must be held on file at the school in respect of every single pupil.
Form B Initial Notification Form: This will be completed by the School at least six weeks (or before any deposit has been paid) prior to any visit /activity involving over night board and lodging and will give preliminary details of the dates and nature of the proposed residential event / activity and the likely numbers participating who may be eligible for remission. This will allow the LEA to consider any such request in principal and if unable to offer support notify the school accordingly. The school can then decide to either finance the residential visit / activity themselves or cancel. This should allow sufficient notice to avoid any cancellation penalty payments being incurred by the school should they decide not to proceed with the activity.
If schools wish to take advantage of any opportunities that may arise due to cancellations or surplus places becoming available at short notice they must contact the Students Support Officer to obtain agreement in principal before making any firm commitment. The necessary paper work would then be completed and submitted as soon as possible.
Form C Event Specific Consent and Claim Form and D Remission Claim: The fact that agreement in principal has already been given on the strength of Form B will obviate the necessity for schools to submit Forms C and D three weeks prior to the residential event / activity. This prior submission can now be reduced to a week which should enable schools to meet this deadline.
Form E: Parental / Guardians medical consent form.
Upon receipt of the necessary application documentation and verification of eligibility the Student Support Officer will authorise reimbursement into the appropriate school fund.
No retrospective claims will be paid and schools must co-operate as fully as possible with the LEA to meet the specified time scales to ensure the prompt payment of remissions.
(pdf, 12.83 KB) Form A - General Consent FormForm B
(pdf, 12.18 KB) Form B Initial Notification FormForm C
(pdf, 22.97 KB) Form C Event Specific Consent and Claim FormForm D
(pdf, 27.24 KB) Form D Remission ClaimForm E
(pdf, 14.65 KB) Form E Parental / Guardians medical consent form