The PTA suffered a financial blow this summer when the company we booked for the fete inflatables ceased trading. They didn’t tell us what was happening, and despite many attempts to contact them, they still haven’t replied to our requests for the money back. We now have to take them to the small claims court, but we’re not hopeful we’ll see much of it, if any.

To make things worse, the replacement company we booked at short notice let us down on the day. Their inflatables failed within the first hour, so we couldn’t sell wristbands. Altogether, the PTA is now around £5,000 down.

That money was meant for our children. We’d hoped the summer fete would go a long way towards air-conditioning for the school this year. Anyone who has picked up a hot, worn-out child at the end of a summer’s day knows how stuffy those classrooms get. For now, that plan is out of reach.

Some parents have already kindly offered to donate towards air-conditioning, which gave us the idea of asking everyone. Every £3,000 we raise means one more classroom gets a cooling unit, and one more room full of children who can learn in comfort next summer. If every family at the school was able to donate £50, we'd be able to cool 13 classrooms.

We know money is tight for everyone, especially with Christmas coming. But if you’re able to give, whatever the amount, it’ll be hugely appreciated. If you can’t, sharing this page with family and friends helps too.

Thank you so much.