Is it time the free school meals for all infant children went?

[BecomeStronger]

If I'm honest I never understood their introduction, but it's clear were facing a period of cuts as we (hopefully) come out of this crisis.

I completely support the Rashford campaign to support families in need, whatever age their children are, but to provide meals for families on good incomes when we can't afford the things we need?

No because a “good income” rarely is a good income, and it fucks over everyone in the middle.
Tbh IMO they can scrap free school meals when they scrap means testing of child benefit- the bullshit of that calculation (2 people earning 40k fine, 1 earning 60k doesn’t qualify) enrages me!

Universal free school meals exist for Key Stage One because studies show that children who are well-nourished, learn better. Early attainment and early intervention are key to improving outcomes for all pupils but especially those in what are considered vulnerable groups. The universal element of these school meals means no child is left behind in terms of being fed.

This article, written in 2017 when May was proposing to scrap UFSM, is one of the best I've read explaining the financial, social and health reasons for continuing the provision.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/may/24/free-school-dinners-in-british-schools-bee-wilson-comment-opinion

No

No the opposite should be extended to Key Stage 2, the more children on school dinners the cheaper per head they become through economies of scale. It would mean every child getting at least one meal per day. It's not just DC from poor families that don't get adequately fed.

Yes i needs to be scrapped.

We earn 198k a year between us and got free school meals.

Bonkers!

It*

I'm going to take a running jump and assume you can afford to pay for school meals.

Many children don't get to pick whether or not they have a healthy diet at home even if their parents can afford to pay for it.

If anything, I wish free school meals continued right through primary and secondary for those families on a lower income. We wouldn't be eligible as a family but I would 100% support it regardless of whether those eligible had Sky TV and a pony.

We earn 198k a year between us and got free school meals good for you, I earn less than a quarter of that and I would be liable to pay

Some very wealthy parents abuse their DC by not feeding them...

Well, they really help us for year 2 Dd.

We live off Dh wage of 32k. It really has helped not to have to pay for meals or buy packed lunch stuff.

We aren't underprivileged, Dd has a great diet at home but it all helps.

My sincere apologies OP. I just re-read your post. I do think those on a significant income should pay up, me included. Where do we draw the line though? Knowing our government it would cost more paying our wonderful MP's to talk about it than it would to put something into place!

Sorry again x

Yes I agree they should be scrapped and means tested. We don’t receive free school meals in wales, which I believe is right. Healthy packed lunches don’t need to cost much to make.

@LightUpLetters

Yes i needs to be scrapped.

We earn 198k a year between us and got free school meals.

Bonkers!

What percentage of children who get free school meals have parents earning £100k? The number is so miniscule it's not really worth worrying out.

If feeding a handful of very wealthy children for free means thousands more children get meals they need, then it's an extremely small price to pay.

@LightUpLetters

Yes i needs to be scrapped.

We earn 198k a year between us and got free school meals.

Bonkers!

You could always calculate the cost of the meals and reimburse HMRC.

They take cheques.

I’m not sure it is just a handful of wealthy parents whose kids get free school meals. It’s every child of the right age of wealthy parents. That’s absolutely loads and loads of children and I totally agree it should be means tested especially at a time like now when the govt need to spend their money v wisely

The cost of means testing these things is extortionate.

It's also about an epidemic of now parents that were never taught to cook properly etc and their DC live off convenience food. It's an opportunity for them to be exposed to different options etc

School meals are so expensive per head because the uptake is low.

If you feel bad about your DC getting free school meals, I suggest setting up a direct debit to your local food bank.

I think all primary kids should get them personally, there are plenty of families who don't qualify for FSM but still struggle.

Or contribute to the school funds?

@RandomMess

The cost of means testing these things is extortionate.

It's also about an epidemic of now parents that were never taught to cook properly etc and their DC live off convenience food. It's an opportunity for them to be exposed to different options etc

School meals are so expensive per head because the uptake is low.

But surely the means testing is already being done as older children from low income homes get free school meals in that basis, so no need to do any extra means testing

I wonder how much it saves in the long run, given that it means that all pupils have at least had one decent meal a day and therefore cuts down on interventions needed to catch up with lessons missed or not followed due to hunger, and reduces behavioural issues meaning everyone learns better? The phrase penny wise, pound foolish springs to mind.

I can afford school meals but DD gets them free. I put extra in the food bank when I shop each week to balance it out. Fed children learn and behave better.

There is a further benefit that universal FSM removes any stigma of the means-tested benefit and ensures that uptake is 100%, further helping schools to access pupil premium funding. There is a significant gap between eligibility and uptake in the secondary school-aged population.

The universal FSM in infant school isn't just about the food. It's about table manners and eating together and waiting and taking turns. Then about allowing children to try food they might not try at home. Wouldn't happen if half the year group were turning up with finger food packed lunches.

I think that there should definitely be a way to donate unwanted meals. Of a rolling 3 week menu, dd will eat 5 meals out of 15, so 10 of her meals are 'wasted' as we don't have to book meals in ks1 and dd also dislikes the alternative of a jacket potato. So 10 meals go to waste. I'd rather that her 10 meals were never cooked, and that I could donate them to a family in need over the school holidays.

I’d rather free meals were extended to all school aged children. Children who are hungry cannot learn effectively.
The more meals produced, the cheaper the cost per meal.