Would you complain about dc sitting on floor to eat lunch?

[Bluebluetuesday]

Since returning last week the dc who have packed lunch now must sit on the floor to eat, whilst hot lunch pupils use the tables.

I'm concerned about the filthy floor, it's uncomfortable, doesn't aid good digestion to be hunched over eating, and it's just not a very pleasant experience for the children.

Would you complain? I already have 😉 but just wondering if others would?

I wouldn’t necessarily “complain” but I’d ask the school about it and voice my concerns, yes.

How old are they? I wouldn’t be impressed really, though I suspect most of mn will be along shortly to tell you eating on the school floor is perfectly acceptable

I wouldn’t complain straight away, I’d certainly be asking why they’re sitting in the floor. Is it a temporary thing (maybe they’ve ordered more chairs?) If the reply is that it is a permanent thing then yes, id tell them that it isn’t acceptable.

Yes I wouldn’t be happy with this. What is their reasoning?

Absolutely not. It’s a disgrace.

That is shocking.

Fair enough in the summer to eat outside on the grass, but this time of year it seems very strange that they don't have access to tables and chairs.

That is horrid. Is that definitely what's happening?

I’d definitely ask more questions before getting too irate. Maybe they just didn’t think this through. In my DC’s school hot lunches eat in the hall and packed lunches on the picnic benches outside. Come to think of it I never asked what that looks like when it rains or it’s cold.

I wouldn’t be happy, all pupils should be entitled to sit a table to eat. Hot or cold food it’s still a meal, they aren’t on a bloody picnic!

What is the reason for this though? Is it a temporary thing?

Regardless…I doubt they are tipping their pack up directly onto the carpet! It’s just an ‘indoor picnic’ isn’t it? I couldn’t get worked up about this.

I suppose the first question is 'why'

Why are any children sitting on the floor to eat. Is there not enough space or tables and chairs? If so, I would expect this to be remedied asap.

I can sort of understand packed lunch food being easier to eat on the floor picnic style than knife and fork food.

There is a nasty undertone of 'second class citizens' for sitting on the floor - I have known schools who have tried to ban packed lunches to create a hostile environment for children with this option - if it's anything like that then yes I would be complaining

Its just... weird

A bad idea - is there no space or something?

Kids do eat on the floor, on carpets, in places, but its weird for some to eat on the floor and the rest not to

DD 8 said it's because the head wants to use their classroom for lunchtime meetings, but this could be completely wrong of course.

I've emailed in to query it and ask for an explanation. Schools sometimes baffle me with their decision making and lack of communication about changes. They must be getting dozens of annoyed parents messaging in.

What’s the reasoning for it? Is it a permanent thing? What happens in the winter months, when they’re wet and muddy? What about in ks2 when the vast majority of kids are packed lunch?

That doesn't make sense does it? Maybe once in a blue moon but there is no way that the Head is having daily lunchtime meetings in a classroom. No harm in emailing, let's hope it was a one-off and it was just explained poorly.

As a one off then fine.
On the carpet then probably fine
On the hall floor whilst others are at tables is a bit odd

Well we eat all of our meals at home on the floor so it would be fine. A lot of schools are extremely short of space, so it wouldn’t surprise me if there isn’t room for one keystage to eat lunch at the same time.

That’s not true at all schools. Most kids have school dinners at ours.

But there was room in July before school broke up, so surely there should be room now?

I'd imagine it was more likely a staffing issue. Were pupils in fewer rooms than previously? Fewer rooms for supervision means fewer staff.