The PTA exists to support the school by funding resources, experiences, and opportunities that benefit our pupils but may fall outside the school’s core budget.
Each year, thanks to fundraising events and the support of parents and the wider community, the PTA is able to invest thousands of pounds back into the school. We are always keen to hear about ideas that could enhance learning, wellbeing, or school life.
This guide explains how staff can request support.
💡What the PTA Funds
The PTA typically funds items or initiatives that provide clear benefit to pupils but may not be covered by standard school funding.
Examples might include:
- 📚 Learning resources or specialist equipment
- 🛝 Playground or outdoor learning equipment
- 🎭 Enrichment activities or experiences
- 🧠 Wellbeing initiatives
- 👩🏫 Projects that benefit a class, year group, or the whole school
- 🤝 Community partnership projects involving pupils
Funding may support one-off purchases, projects, or pilot initiatives.
🚫What the PTA Usually Cannot Fund
The PTA aims to complement, not replace, the school’s core funding responsibilities.
For that reason, we generally cannot fund:
- 👥 Core staffing costs
- 🖊️ Standard classroom supplies normally provided by the school
- 🔁 Ongoing operational expenses
However, if you are unsure whether something qualifies, please feel free to ask.
📝How to Request Funding
To keep things simple, requests should be submitted via the school leadership team.
This ensures that:
- The request aligns with school priorities
- There is visibility across the school
- The PTA can make informed decisions
The usual process is:
- A member of staff identifies a need or idea.
- The request is discussed with the Headteacher or leadership team.
- The school submits the request to the PTA for consideration.
📊Information That Helps Us Decide
When reviewing requests, the PTA finds it helpful to understand:
- What the item or project is
- How it will benefit pupils
- How many children will benefit
- The approximate cost
- Whether any other funding sources are available
This helps ensure we can support as many pupils as possible with the funds available.
⚖️How Decisions Are Made
Funding requests are normally discussed at PTA committee meetings.
When reviewing requests, the PTA considers:
- 🎯 Impact on pupils
- 👨👩👧👦 Number of children benefiting
- 📌 Alignment with PTA objectives
- 💰 Available budget
Where possible, we aim to respond quickly so that projects can move forward without delay.
🤝Partial Funding
In some cases, the PTA may:
- Provide partial funding, or
- Work with the school to co-fund a project
This allows the PTA to support more initiatives across the school.
Small or Informal Requests
For smaller items or projects, the PTA may be able to support more quickly.
If something would make a meaningful difference to pupils but requires modest funding, it is still worth raising.
💬Working Together
The PTA exists to support the school community, and we welcome ideas from staff about how funds can be used to enhance pupils’ experience.
If you have an idea that could benefit children at the school, please speak with the leadership team so it can be considered for PTA support.
Together we can ensure the funds raised by parents and the community make the greatest possible impact.