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Original poster

Food parcel from school

90 replies

buddybean · 01/02/2024 11:43

My 5yo DD has been poorly and has not been attending school since Tuesday. Today someone from school came over to see her and gave us a food parcel. I am confused why did they give it? I couldn't ask them straight because my 1yr old was crying like crazy and they just left saying hope to see her at school tomorrow and this is a food parcel for you. What do I do with it as it has stuff that I do not use except for the tea bag and sugar! Do I return it to them? I'm new to this whole thing as she just started school.

OP posts:
WillYouPutYourCoatOn · 01/02/2024 19:10

How many days off has your DD had? If she's only been there just over a term and this is not her first absence, they may well be checking up.

Mostc schools don't do this, but they are allowed to do this.

MorningSunshineSparkles · 01/02/2024 19:12

Could they have been just wanting to check on her welfare and used the parcel as an excuse? Do they have any concerns about her home life or is there SW involvement?

BlueGrey1 · 01/02/2024 19:16

I wouldn’t return it, it might seem ungrateful

Is there anyone you can give the stuff to….a neighbour / friend / sibling

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General education
SlidingInto2024 · 01/02/2024 19:44

I would just ring to thank the school but just explain that you aren't struggling for food and will return the items so they can give them to another family in need.

They might even explain why you've received it. I wouldn't be too worried, there will be many more embarrassing things your child (or yourself) do at school that a random food parcel misunderstanding will pale into insignificance Grin

Or just donate it to the foodbank.

Welcome to school-life

Original poster
buddybean · 01/02/2024 19:46

@MorningSunshineSparkles Nope no SS involved but she does keep getting cold often have been to GP and bloods done came back normal. She has a swollen tonsils and ear pain same things on repeat so she keeps missing school.

OP posts:
Original poster
buddybean · 01/02/2024 19:48

@MorningSunshineSparkles Yup today is day 3 of absence as she's running a temperature of 102F with a bad cough.

OP posts:
WillYouPutYourCoatOn · 01/02/2024 20:12

Ok, they are checking up on your child's quite frequent absences.

RNBrie · 01/02/2024 20:27

I think they were doing a welfare check to make sure things were OK at home. The primary school my kids go to would do this if a child has unusually high absence.

Original poster
buddybean · 01/02/2024 20:31

@RNBrie Well they didn't even come inside the house. It was me who called DD telling her there's someone from your school to see you, they seemed least interested (because of howling Dd2). They said here's a food parcel and left. To be frank I thought they are giving it to everyone. Checked with 3 friends whose children go to the same school all say "Nope we didn't receive any but so generous with you"

OP posts:
otherwayup · 01/02/2024 20:34

buddybean · 01/02/2024 19:46

@MorningSunshineSparkles Nope no SS involved but she does keep getting cold often have been to GP and bloods done came back normal. She has a swollen tonsils and ear pain same things on repeat so she keeps missing school.

Have you shown school medical evidence for these gp appointments?
If not sounds like a safeguarding check to me!

Original poster
buddybean · 01/02/2024 20:37

@otherwayup No I haven't but if they ask me I can she's been on amoxicillin 3 times (every time she missed school) the last time school itself called me to take her home saying she's been coughing nonstop.

Should ai be worried if it was a welfare check?

OP posts:
ToastyBreads · 01/02/2024 20:41

We used to drop these off to get eyes on vulnerable children or those we were worried about. If your child isn’t pupil premium (free school meals due to financial circumstances), then they are checking on you and the children.

Original poster
buddybean · 01/02/2024 20:45

@ToastyBreads Then it's best I clarify it with school and return the food parcel and tell them DD1 has been sick and now DD2 is sick as well. I try to keep her up to date with school curriculum even if she's at home due to being poorly. I teach her at home whenever she feels better .

OP posts:
MrsWombat · 01/02/2024 20:58

I would ask the school why you received it.

In my school children who are entitled to free school meals who are excluded, can have a packed lunch from the kitchen, which can be picked up by a carer. I wonder if your school has a similar policy for FSM children who are sick for more than a couple of days to receive similar as a food parcel? It does seem that you've got more hot lunch lunch style ingredients, rather than breakfast and dinner ingredients.

otherwayup · 01/02/2024 21:51

buddybean · 01/02/2024 20:37

@otherwayup No I haven't but if they ask me I can she's been on amoxicillin 3 times (every time she missed school) the last time school itself called me to take her home saying she's been coughing nonstop.

Should ai be worried if it was a welfare check?

Unless there are other concerns I wouldn't worry too much. Try and get into the habit of showing evidence of anything medical, schools are always looking at any drops in attendance and anything below 85-90% will be monitored closely!
Ask them? I always answer honestly when parents ask why I've visited them at home unexpectedly!

Original poster
buddybean · 02/02/2024 10:16

UPDATE. DD1 was feeling well so dropped her off at school. I asked one of the staff about the food parcel she told me that many pupils and even teachers receive food parcel but she's not sure why they came to my HOME to drop a food parcel. She's sent a msg to the pastoral team to call me back and explain why the food parcel was dropped. And the lady who came was a Careworker!

OP posts:
MorningSunshineSparkles · 02/02/2024 10:31

@buddybean theres your answer then, if she’s off frequently for the same recurring issues they’ll be wanting to check on her welfare. It’s a safeguarding thing, so long as they can see you’re all ok and she’s not being kept off to hide visible bruises then you’ll be fine. I know how stressful it is though, glad she’s feeling better today Flowers

Original poster
buddybean · 02/02/2024 10:37

I know how important school is and I try to keep her up to date with her studies. But I really cannot help her being poorly often. How do I explain it to school? They say just send her in even if it's a mild fever and cough but as a mum I feel anxious sending her lest her condition gets worse.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 02/02/2024 12:26

buddybean · 02/02/2024 10:37

I know how important school is and I try to keep her up to date with her studies. But I really cannot help her being poorly often. How do I explain it to school? They say just send her in even if it's a mild fever and cough but as a mum I feel anxious sending her lest her condition gets worse.

if she gets worse In school they will contact you to collect her, young children gets coughs and sniffles sometimes lasting all winter sadly it just goes round and round classrooms, it isn't beneficial to keep them off every time they feel a bit hot. some calpol and send her to school.

mindutopia · 02/02/2024 12:51

My guess is that it was to check up that she was okay and the food parcel was the excuse to come to your house. If she has had repeated absences, I think they are probably expected to check on her welfare, but because there is no SS involvement, there is no official channel to do that through, so a friendly 'delivery' was a safe bet to get you to the door to see all was okay with you both.

Original poster
buddybean · 02/02/2024 17:50

Spoke to the class teacher who assured me saying the school just keeps giving food parcels to everyone including teachers. So might be as DD was poorly they were being kind. I did thank them but returned it saying please pass it on to some really needy family.

My new problem is DD1 back home with a fever again! I'm done with these fevers and cold and coughs 😞...

OP posts:
Boobettes · 02/02/2024 17:54

Why on earth would you start a thread rather than simply phoning the school office?

Original poster
buddybean · 02/02/2024 17:58

@Boobettes Because I did call the school office with no answer. Try to be rude somewhere else or if you own MN then please show me the rules where I have done something horribly wrong by asking this on MN.

Thanks!

OP posts:
Boobettes · 02/02/2024 18:04

Blimey calm down 🤣🤣

It just seems weird to ask MN "What do I do with it as it has stuff that I do not use except for the tea bag and sugar! Do I return it to them?"

The school would've answered both the phone and your questions eventually.

Original poster
buddybean · 02/02/2024 18:07

@Boobettes I'm sorry for being rude! Long day with kids being poorly! I'm new to the country and seriously I thought it might be a thing here to send food parcels I didn't want to sound rude telling them I don't want it. So I posted on MN as many posters might have been in a similar situation. Also the school neither called me back nor did they answer my mail!

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