A six year old boy has been unable to join in his preferred after school clubs at a Swindon school after it is claimed his parents do not claim enough benefits according to the MailOnline.
It is reported that Thomas McCormick, who attends Oliver Tomkins, tried to sign up for the reading, maths, computer and homework clubs at the school, only to be refused a place as his parents do not claim enough in benefits.
The MailOnline report that Thomas’s mum Cara and stepfather Steve claim child benefit, which is payable to all parents and also Working Tax Credit.
According to the school’s headteacher, Ms Cockwell, Thomas hadn’t realised the clubs he was requesting to join were exclusive to children whose parents claim benefits telling the MailOnline: ‘Unfortunately what happened was that Thomas must have seen a couple of clubs on the list that he liked the look of, and not realised they were pupil premium clubs.’
Pupil Premium is additional funding for publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils of all abilities and to close the gaps between them and their peers.
In the last financial year, 2016 to 2017, schools received over £1,300 funding for each pupil registered as eligible for free school meals at any point in the last 6 years:
· £1,320 for pupils in reception to year 6
· £935 for pupils in year 7 to year 11
Ms. Cockwell also added that Thomas is free to join any of the ten clubs run after school which are open to all pupils, and said she has written to parents Cara and Steve to explain the school’s actions.
