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Original poster

How long do your secondary kids get for lunch?

52 replies

backtoschoolagainagain · 07/09/2021 22:39

DS's school lunch "hour" went down to 25 minutes when they brought in various covid restrictions. Fair enough.

Now they've gone back to school, most of the restrictions have been lifted, but they still have only 25 minutes for lunch.

This includes the entire year queuing in the canteen, then sitting and eating lunch. And if the year before them is slow, they may not even start queuing on time.

Does this sound right to you? Shouldn't the DC be encouraged to get some fresh air and move about a bit at lunchtime?

How long do your secondary age DC get at lunch?

OP posts:
WotgunShedding · 07/09/2021 23:27

An hour. Year 7 DC so not sure what it was pre covid but can’t imagine it could’ve been longer.

MrsAvocet · 07/09/2021 23:34

50 minutes.
It went down to 30 last year with lots of staggered lunches but its back to normal this term, with lunchtime clubs back on.
Not sure what I think about that really.

GreenEggsAndHamPlease · 07/09/2021 23:35

@tunnocksreturns2019

Thank you. He’s Y8 so his Y7 was very covidy with no clubs and too much time learning at home, far fewer opportunities to make friends. Hoping for a better year this year - he’s a lovely boy (of course I would say that!)
Sounds very similar to my DS. Also now Yr 8. I feel they missed out on so much important settling in last year. My DS has some friends but no one he's really close to, I always feel he's on the edge of the friendship groups. Let's hope Yr 8 is easier for them.

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ChevreChase · 07/09/2021 23:47

30 mins with no staggering - all 1300 kids at once. DS has just started there this week as a Y7, so I'm sticking with packed lunches for now, because we'd both rather he spends any extra time outside rather than just queuing and then wolfing his food down.

Silkiescatz · 07/09/2021 23:56

20 mins so dd doesnt eat, due to covid.

StrangeAddiction · 07/09/2021 23:57

I assumed 30 minutes but my dc reckon 15 minutes Hmm DD did even get to have any dinner today as the queue was too long and they apparently were told to leave. Dc said all secondary in at once so the queue was "out the door and round the corner". I'm keeping an eye on their dinner account and I'll be bringing it up with the school of it continues.

EmeraldShamrock · 07/09/2021 23:58

50 minutes, she has a 15 minute walk home/return leaving 20 mins to eat lunch, change books.
I wish we'd canteens in schools.

Original poster
backtoschoolagainagain · 08/09/2021 10:14

Do you reckon I'll get anywhere complaining to the school it's too short? 25 minutes seems nuts to me!

It was longer before Covid. (I forget how lpong, DS wasn't at the school then).

All the other covid measures are gone, why not this one?!

OP posts:
Original poster
backtoschoolagainagain · 08/09/2021 10:15

@Silkiescatz

20 mins so dd doesnt eat, due to covid.
JFC do they think the kids are robots? 20 minutes is ridiculous!
OP posts:
CiaoForNiao · 08/09/2021 10:19

30 mins which is what it was before covid. Even with staggered lunch times DS says its not long enough to queue up, get a meal and eat so he doesn't bother. (Fsm).
School say its because it prevents bullying. Only he gets bullied so it doesn't work Hmm

Tuliprain · 08/09/2021 10:23

30 mins. Used to be about 45 but they changed it for Covid and decided to keep it the same. Just not long enough.

YouLando · 08/09/2021 11:22

1 hour and 10 minutes at DD's school.

UserAtLargeAgain · 08/09/2021 11:24

30 minutes but half the school at a time. Used to be 40 minutes pre Covid, but they had the whole school at the same time, so this is better.

Also not until 1.30pm, which is more of an issue as a long time since breakfast.

halcyondays · 08/09/2021 11:27

Ours are back to their normal lunchtime which is an hour. Last year it was shorter, 35 minutes I think.

TheDistortion · 08/09/2021 11:30

Ours is also 25 minutes, which I think is appalling. I don't know if this is due to Covid or has always been like this as DS only started this week. I know they are obsessed with finishing early as they also start school at 8.25.
Personally I would not be happy with back to back meetings and then a 25 minute lunch break, which is basically what they have. It seems like they spend most of lunch time in a queue.

IHateCoronavirus · 08/09/2021 11:45

@tunnocksreturns2019

Thank you. He’s Y8 so his Y7 was very covidy with no clubs and too much time learning at home, far fewer opportunities to make friends. Hoping for a better year this year - he’s a lovely boy (of course I would say that!)
Ah I have a girl version of your little fella. Hoping they find their feet and good friends soon Brew
Iggly · 08/09/2021 11:48

I’m keeping an eye on this as my FD has just started y7 and coming back both very thirsty and starving.

I’ll write straight to the governors if I complain.

WhiskeyNeverStartsToTasteNice · 08/09/2021 12:03

An hour. Some of these lunch breaks seem v short!

youngestisapsycho · 08/09/2021 12:08

40 min lunch and a 30 min morning break when the canteen is also open

MrsScrubbingbrush · 08/09/2021 12:09

DD1 gets a 25 minute break mid morning & 35 minutes lunch break. She takes in a packed lunch & snacks so they she gets time to eat instead of queuing.

youngestisapsycho · 08/09/2021 12:09

A thirsty child? Are they taking water to school or other drink? My DDs school has water fountains to refill bottles

TwoLeftElbows · 08/09/2021 12:12

30 mins but they also have a 30 min late break, and a lot of kids eat their lunch then.

CustardyCreams · 08/09/2021 12:27

We got 1 hr ten mins! Lots of lunchtime clubs so often had to eat in ten mins tho.

Peanutsandchilli · 08/09/2021 18:35

30 minutes, in the middle of a 1hr lesson. They upped the admission number while simultaneously decreasing the length of the school day. I can't get my head around it.

Olive30 · 08/09/2021 18:59

50 mins, about right, i think. 25 mins is way too short. I would struggle as an adult with that by the time you have queued.