fundraising - Doubled Up

Like many schools across the land, ours had a non-uniform day to raise funds for Children in Need. Actually, I think that the Year 2s chose a local children's charity to give the money they raised to. In the initial letter that came out to parents, it was to be dressing up as either famous sports stars or famous pop stars. I wasn't overjoyed as, although for my son it was easy (I could convince him that a black pair of shorts and a red pullover was the kit of a famous footballer) I really didn't want my 6 year old daughter dressing up as a pop star and I couldn't think of what sports gear she would agree to wear. I briefly toyed with the idea of putting her wetsuit and her swim goggles on her, making a load of gold medals and telling her she was Phelps. Funnily enough, she didn't see this as a good idea. The theme got changed last minute to 'famous people', which helped, although I wasn't imaginative enough to come up with an outfit to fit that either.

In the end, Milly wore a pair of her brothers trousers, a rugby top and a cap and we told her she was a jockey. I think she only bought into this because she was allowed to take a space hopper with a horse's head (stuffed toy, not a real one) into school.

The excitement in the playground before school was palpable. I didn't envy the teachers (four of whom had come as teletubbies), although I'm sure they managed to get a small amount of work done!! Predictably, in Year 2, most boys were David Beckham, and the girls were all sorts from High School Musical. In Reception, there were a variety of princesses and a large number of spider/super men, plus a handful of boys who, like my son, had been duped into believing that Manchester United's aways strip is black. But the spookiest was a teeny, tiny girl who walked past me heading to her Reception class, dressed as Amy Winehouse. It was spookily accurate and I watched all of the mothers' jaws drop as she went past. Not really someone you would aspire to, however much you appreciate her singing/songwriting ability. But at the same time, the girl looked so uncannily like her, you had to admire the effort her family had put into it!

Whatever your schools did, I hope that everyone concerned had fun and that lots of money was raised!

At least now I know that I have upset people with my questions about bouncy castles. I spoke to a member of our parents association yesterday about my concerns and suggested that we put up a sign to say the age limit on the castle. When I walked away, I heard him mutter 'miserable cow'.

Now, I know I am setting myself up for this, but I want to know if it is miserable of me to want to be sure that the children are safe, that people working on the bouncy castle know what rules theyy are implementing and that, should there be an accident, the school will not be sued. I don't for a minute want to suggest that things haven't been done right in the past (my kids have only just joined the school, so I wouldn't know), nor am I unaware of the hard work that the parents' association put into the fete. However, I think that is the way it was taken. Ho hum.

I'm going to be even more miserable about the whole affair next year and this is where I want your opinions. All parents have been given a plastic bowl to fill with a pounds worth of 'goodies', which will then be sold for a pound. Threehundred and fifty kids in the school - you do the maths, it's a good fundraiser. Now, here's where I get all bah humbug about it. WE ARE AN ECO SCHOOL. WE ARE A HEALTHY SCHOOL. But what are these plastic bowls filled with? Essentially, more plastic and sugar. Now, if other parents want to let their kids eat sweets filled with gelatin and sugar, that is up to them. However, I really object to a) the number of plastic bowls being handed out when a jam jar or paper bag or even a recycled flowerpot (Yum, hygenic!) would do and b) These are being filled with plastic toys made, most likely, in China and probably by children of the same age as our little darlings in not very nice conditions.

So, thanks to this plastic frenzy, we get 350 pounds to spend in our leafy, middle class school where  the kids want for nothing and all at the expense of (possibly) children elsewhere in the world. Personally, I would like to do without the 350 pounds and, instead, spend some time talking to the children about what they would like to have at the school fete and why, the implications of their choices and any alternatives that they can come up with. I wouldn't be very surprised if they decided that it would be rather nice to run the school fete to raise funds for others who are less fortunate than themselves.

So, you tell me. Am I a miserable cow?

Bouncy castles at the school fete may not be a big issue in the greater scheme of things, but, once again, I don't know how far to go with expressing my opinions...

I am concerned about the bouncy castle at the school fete, following the accident that was reported in the press after which the family that had hired the castle were sued. There is a reluctance on behalf of the Parents Association to put an age limit on the castle. I, at the very least, want a sign that restricts older children being on the castle when younger children are on it. At best, I want to prevent anyone over the age of 10 from using the castle (this is an infant school fete).

I am aware that one of the mums who is named to help on the castle brings her older children with her and that they are not the best behaved of children, so I feel that it would be easier for anyone working with her to have been given the rule and have a sign to refer to. That way it is clear.

The problem is that some governors agree, and others think I am just being an old fusspot again. But I don't want to back down when the safety of the children is at stake.

My understanding is that, should there be an accident, the school (that means the governing body) would be responsible, so I would like to show that we have taken every measure to make it as safe as possible. Is this actually the case, does anyone know? Could the school be sued if there is an accident and we haven't taken the proper measures to keep things safe?

Am I fussing over nothing? Or am I right? Should I stick to my guns or back down? And, ultimately, who gets to decide - the Chair of Governors, the Head or does it go to a vote?

The fete is on Saturday, so not long to decide!