Are “home lunches” still a thing at your children’s school?

I did this, I used to walk home by myself. I loved it!

Also year 11 used to be allowed offsite at lunch.

No one does it now.

Gosh I'd forgotten this had ever been a thing!

I used to go home for lunch at least once a week all through Primary...I'm 39. And in secondary in Y10 or 11 we could go where we liked at lunch.

Dc are between 17 and 8 and it's never been an option (two different Primaries). The big ones in Comp also have to stay on school grounds at lunch time.

Was there any need to be so aggressive? 46% of children in the UK have two working parents, and many of those children will have a grandparent involved who might want them for lunch sometimes. Not everyone lives your life.

In the 70s at my primary it was cooked school dinners or home for lunch. My school was in the town centre and only a couple of families lived near enough to go home. Then they introduced packed lunches (the only people who stayed on school dinners in my class were those on free school meals); I don't know whether home lunch ceased as an option at the same time.

I'm trying to remember what the rules were at secondary - I know I did sometimes go home when I was further up the school, but I don't think I had to sign out or notify anyone! But in those days the site was open, with several entrances, so they would not have known who was on the premises anyway.

I did this occasionally in secondary school in the 80's. But everyone was allowed out anyway. We'd go to the chip shop and newsagents too.

Made the hell of secondary school a little more bearable.

DUH… parents are working? How has this never crossed your mind?

It was common at my primary in the late 80s. I’d go home on Fridays for fish fingers and chips. And it was allowed at all if the secondaries I attended, although none was near enough to my home for me. I did take my packed lunch to a friends in Year 11 though. Or more honestly, to a dilapidated barn on a field near school where we drank white lightening. Maybe I can see the problem….

Teachers at secondary would patrol the local troublemaking spots though for errant teens who were supposed to be home but were being nuisances instead.

They always had to be back in time for afternoon registration. And some children might struggle with coming back in, but their families would know that and could choose not to take that option. Other children would be fine with it and relish the break from routine/a calm oasis in the school day.

There’s no practical reason why this can’t be offered as an option in many schools. Our educational culture has become much more inflexible and unforgiving; children and families are expected to fit around the school systems, rather than the other way around.

In primary school (1986-1993) I used to go home for lunch at least once a week. In secondary school we weren’t allowed because the school was rural and most people came in on busses

Jesus, a pound! 🤣

I'm 38 and I remember doing this. We could do this in secondary school too and just go off to the shop and buy lunch and be free and then around year 9 they stopped it as too many kids wouldn't come back 🤣

It was still an option when my DC were in primary in the east of Scotland 12 years ago. They didn't do it often, but it was an occassional treat.

The school I work in now doesn't allow it (England) apart from children with medical issues.

When one opened near my school they did a £1 special - roll and chips, fritter, gravy/curry sauce and a can of juice. They were queued out the door every day.

We also got more play time/hangout time than those who went school dinners as the chippy served much much faster.

Still have it in my area of NE Scotland. Even though there are free school lunches, less than half took them. Lots of kids go home for lunch- no handovers - they just walk home.

In the 90s the local fish and chips shop did a roaring trade with the 'home dinner' kids. We'd be just left to do as we please. Although nicking off on the afternoon was rife and didn't muster much more than a shrug from the school.

When I was a child and the 'junior' school was minutes away I used to walk home to have lunch every day. I don't think they are allowed to do this now? A shame. Xx

Not a thing here, although the HT has said it's not "not allowed" it's just never done.

Very much still a thing in parts of North Lanarkshire. I got caught out twice when visiting family a few weeks back. Wee quiet takeaway place was completely empty at 12.01 when I started to put my shoes on. Was chock full of kids at 12.06 when I walked out the door 😂

I remember on a cultural level secondaries allowing the students off site even though mine didn't until 6th form. I think there was starting to be a bit of a mindset that "good" schools didn't do this.

I would have hated it if my parents picked me up for lunch. Lunchtimes with my friends were best part of school!!

Wasn’t a thing at my kids school- now in mid twenties. I used to go home in senior school in eighties.

Did that in the 90s for my DCs when I had a rare day off during the week. They loved it - they would plead to be a "Homie".

In the summer a group of us would quite often have a picnic in the park during lunch break with assorted kids. No formal permission sought- changed days!

Oh wow - I’ve never heard of this! I was at primary in the 90’s and it wasn’t an option. I would LOVE to do this with my DCs now!

Can't remember this but I'm a summer birthday and I know that my parents only took me in for half days until I turned 5 in reception. (I'm in my 30's now) I don't think that really happens now either, if anything there's most parents needing wrap around care.