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?

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

You can means test winter fuel allowance first!

It would cost more to means test it then it does to just pay it to the additional people.

So far I have been able to gift my school-
6 apple trees
4 football goals
10 footballs
10 basketballs
A bench
A contribution to outdoor sinks
A contribution to chrome books

... And A Partridge In A Pear Tree

“I actually think there should be free meals throughout primary for all children without an opt out clause. “

Translation: “I want to make life even harder for some children with disabilities like ASD”.

My child is “fussy”. It’s our job as his parents to deal with that, which we are, carefully and slowly. School can’t actually safely cater for his allergies anyway but that’s another story. School dinner ladies blundering in offering “encouragement” or being served food that will literally mean he vomits over the table just at the smell really isn’t going to improve his eating. He’ll just be hangry and emotional which benefits no one. In fact push him too far he probably would start refusing to even enter the dinner hall every day, that would I’m sure help the staff no end. Funnily enough, and to the astonishment of the headteacher who assured me DC would just eat what their friends did, peer pressure doesn’t always work.

And no, saying he gets a special dispensation because of his disability (ie singled out) isn’t helpful either. So unbelievably bored with other people judging “fussy” children. Provide free lunches by all means (though I’d actually prefer to just ensure every family had the means to feed their child themselves) but why take away others choices?

It’s worrying that a few posters seem to think that children of a higher income family automatically benefit by being fed properly.

lang thank you! We were scratching our head!

Actually we have gifted a live stream panto this Christmas. 🥳

Thatwentbadly I was just saying before you go after children, don’t actually care strongly enough to say it should be scrapped in its own right

I'd like them to extend the scheme, many families earn too much to qualify for FSM but struggle to afford school dinners. The benefits of FSM far outweigh the cost, and aren't the government all about levelling up? This is key to giving children the best start in life.

No. I'd prefer it if all primary and secondary pupils had a small healthy breakfast (optional) and free lunch at school.

@Wondering1215

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

Surely those with significant income can just make a financial donation to the school to cover the meals they could’ve bought. They are all underfunded nowadays, so the kids would all benefit directly if people who could afford it did that.

@LightUpLetters

Yes i needs to be scrapped.

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

Bonkers!

If you feel that strongly then why did you not just send in a packed lunch? You would have paid for that outbid your 198k or just reimburse the school

@Theotherrudolph

“I actually think there should be free meals throughout primary for all children without an opt out clause. “

Translation: “I want to make life even harder for some children with disabilities like ASD”.

My child is “fussy”. It’s our job as his parents to deal with that, which we are, carefully and slowly. School can’t actually safely cater for his allergies anyway but that’s another story. School dinner ladies blundering in offering “encouragement” or being served food that will literally mean he vomits over the table just at the smell really isn’t going to improve his eating. He’ll just be hangry and emotional which benefits no one. In fact push him too far he probably would start refusing to even enter the dinner hall every day, that would I’m sure help the staff no end. Funnily enough, and to the astonishment of the headteacher who assured me DC would just eat what their friends did, peer pressure doesn’t always work.

And no, saying he gets a special dispensation because of his disability (ie singled out) isn’t helpful either. So unbelievably bored with other people judging “fussy” children. Provide free lunches by all means (though I’d actually prefer to just ensure every family had the means to feed their child themselves) but why take away others choices?

Universal Free School Meals doesn't have to, and shouldn't imo, remove the ability to take a packed lunch.

That should be the opt out. If you want a school lunch it's free, if you want to bring a packed lunch then fine.

I also think children should be able to go home for lunch where it suits, but that seems to be a very old-fashioned (and perhaps quite scottish thing as the thought has horrified the Head of every English school I worked in!).

lyralalala my son's school is fairly defensive about these things - I think the head would think it reflects poorly on her to admit the school is struggling with the budget. We don't have a PTA either so no, its not actually that easy to donate to school funds!

@lyralalala most lunchtimes are too short these days unless you live next door!!

I used to go home for lunch in England. One year I had a horrid teacher and my Mum had to walk me back to school after lunch - I was in year 1 so clearly from reception onwards had walked myself to and from school!

I believe KS1 FSM were brought in by the coalition government as a compromise to the LD so they could pass the marriage allowance.

If it gets cut I don't see why marriage allowance shouldn't go as well. And yes I directly benefit from both at the moment!

Rich parents doesnt always mean well fed children unfortunately. I do not think it should be scrapped.

@infinitediamonds

I would like them to continue but I wish that schools offered the option to pay what you can to school funds - some schools have to contribute to the free school meals for KS1 out of their budget and if that is the case I would like to help meet the cost.

That's a good idea. Maybe buy things for them? Glue sticks, markers etc - stuff that will get used.

You could just give them cash instead as a donation (I presume this would be ok but I don't know).

@infinitediamonds

lyralalala my son's school is fairly defensive about these things - I think the head would think it reflects poorly on her to admit the school is struggling with the budget. We don't have a PTA either so no, its not actually that easy to donate to school funds!

Apologies, I hadn't considered a frankly stupid Head. That's just daft.

Have you ever asked the teacher? There are common things that schools are always, always short of (glue sticks, scissors, pencils among them) and teachers often end up buying out of their own pocket.

I would support FSM all the way through primary TBH
Means testing has associated costs

@infinitediamonds your head 😳 could you ask the admin/reception staff on the quiet if there are any materials they could do with or a quiet word with the teacher??

Not at all. I think all primary age children should get a free school meal.

lyralalala thanks thats a good idea, I will ask the class teacher if I can make a donation of something directly to his class/year group.

There’s actually a really low percentage of children that take the school meals in our school. Neither of my DC would, they both took packed lunches or came home for lunch. The head teacher sends out letters every term pleading for more children to use it, asking for menu suggestions and any ways to encourage children to take them. Mine won’t go because they hate the noise and smells in the canteen, quite happy to go once at secondary school though.

@infinitediamonds

lyralalala thanks thats a good idea, I will ask the class teacher if I can make a donation of something directly to his class/year group.

If you think they might be defensive maybe say you've heard of a few people doing it and think it's great so are they short of scissors, glue sticks or anything in particular. If they thinkthere is going to be a donation they may be more likely to tell you what is most needed.

A friendly TA or office staff member might also be a good shout for a heads up on what they're short of either.

I think it works out cheaper to make it a universal provision than it does to administer it on a means tested basis.

It would be great if the government actually gave schools enough money to cover these “free” infant school meals. They give is £2.34 per infant child taking a meal on October census day. Our caterer charges £2.50 per meal so already 16p short. Then if we take more children on roll after census day that’s a full £2.50 per day. This money comes out our already VERY tight budget. My school and others in our area have had to make people redundant. We have classes being taught by unqualified teachers because we cannot afford qualified teachers. “Free” meals cost the school! BUT for some of our children it genuinely is their only decent meal. It’s a rock and hard place situation.....