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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think schools should allow flexibility between packed lunches and school meals?

87 replies

NameChanger206 · 05/11/2025 18:32

My child’s primary school had just implemented a policy which asks parents to choose either packed lunch or school meals, with no option to switch day to day (previously we could). It’s in quite a deprived area, and while some days the school lunch options are fine, other days they really aren’t great and many kids simply won’t eat— and I don’t think it’s fair to expect parents to fund a packed lunch every day when free school meals are available in KS1 for all, any many in KS2 too.

Surely it would make sense to allow a bit of flexibility — for example, letting children have school meals on certain days (especially if they’re entitled to free meals) and bring packed lunches on others?

I understand they need to plan catering numbers, but this feels unnecessarily rigid, especially given how tight finances are for many families right now.

AIBU to think schools should show a bit more flexibility here?

OP posts:
Twinkylightsg · 05/11/2025 18:47

It is due to catering costs and how much they need to provide and if they are able to get the products they need in a reasonable time frame.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 05/11/2025 18:47

Our school you just have to book via an app before midnight for the next day if you want a school dinner. You can change your previously chosen choice too, so long as it's before midnight.

We also don't pay until the day they have it either, so if I were to for some reason send DD in with a packed lunch on a day I'd ordered a meal and she didn't have it, I wouldn't be charged.

Original poster
NameChanger206 · 05/11/2025 18:46

CosyMintFish · 05/11/2025 18:41

Ours you turned up on the day and gave your menu choice or packed lunch option with the register.

its for the convenience of the catering company so they can ensure that they maximise custom.

I think this will have the opposite effect going by the parent chat - many feel they need to provide a packed lunch full time for fear their kids will not each anything 1-2 days per week.

OP posts:
Halfblindbunny · 05/11/2025 18:45

Wow I never knew this was a thing. Every primary school I have had experience of you pick school dinners or packed lunch and stick with it.

MumChp · 05/11/2025 18:45

We book for a week in advance. Works fine.

Noodledoodledoo · 05/11/2025 18:44

We used to have to decided half term by half term and it was all packed or all lunches.
We now have to submit choices by Saturday for the following week, no choices submitted no meal provided either for Free or paid lunches.
Chopping and changing daily would be a nightmare for catering and expensive, the funding for the free school meals is complex and based on census day lunch take up - school fund the difference - families are not the only element who do not have a lot of spare cash.

Brickiscool · 05/11/2025 18:42

At mine school meals must be booked in advance, but you pick which days and can pack lunch any individual day instead. Lots with free meals just book every day and then send in a lunch box as well on days the kids don't like the food. Some kids eat the whole school plus their packed lunch. Others pick the bits of meal they like and then top up with their packed.

Storynanny1 · 05/11/2025 18:42

So for the whole term/year they have to have one or the other? That’s ridiculous and I say that as a teacher of 40+ years. I’ve never come across that in any school I’ve taught in or any that my children or grandchildren attend.
Currently in the school my 2 youngest grandchildren attend it’s week at a time, so on Mondays they have to say if they are dinners or packed lunches on each of the days - they can choose either on any day.
That must be really difficult for parents and children at your school to manage - are other parents unhappy? Nothing at schools is ever set in stone so maybe you should let your feelings known?

CosyMintFish · 05/11/2025 18:41

Ours you turned up on the day and gave your menu choice or packed lunch option with the register.

its for the convenience of the catering company so they can ensure that they maximise custom.

Halfblindbunny · 05/11/2025 18:39

The flexibility you describe sounds like a nightmare for those in charge of the actual logistics. You would have to have people let you know which they wanted on which day far enough in advance. Anytime you ask people to do something such as fill in a form about which dinners they want on which day you automatically get people who don't do it at all, do it wrong, want to change after it's been submitted etc etc

Fearfulsaints · 05/11/2025 18:39

My children had to book a week ahead and could pick days with ine catering company.

The next catering company didng let you pick days.

Original poster
NameChanger206 · 05/11/2025 18:35

It would be helpful to know if others have this flexibility!

OP posts:
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