AIBU to wonder why this isn't being rolled out to ALL children?

[CocacolaMum]

..and not just the under 7's! In reality I know it always comes down to cost but wouldn't it be a marvellous thing to know that all children are having 1 nutritious meal per day.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24132416?SThisFB

I don't agree with it. There are loads of families who can afford to pay for school dinners. I would rather the money was spent on the NHS.

Why under 7? What changes when they reach 8?

my concern is whether the schools will actually receive enough money to make decent meals? will they buy them in? will they all have to have kitchens built so they can make them?
how will this even work???
i would worry that the amount deemed necessary to cook for each child would be too low or that schools will cut corners and kids will actually end up with a not particularly nutritious meal.

I don't agree with it.

If children are being genuinely starved/neglected then it's a matter for Social Services IMO.

YANBU.

It should be given to all children if its going to be given to any. They should also get rid of the pupil premium attached to FSMs and just provide help where it's needed instead of having a system that say done child is more worthy of support than another.

If it can't be offered to all, then it shouldn't be offered at all. Do children suddenly not need a lunch at the age of 8 and above? Children who need it, at any age, should be given free meals. Agree it's a waste of money which could be spent better elsewhere.

This is as big a waste of tax payers money as free prescriptions for everybody here in Wales (and I think Scotland too). Those who can afford it pay, those who can't already get free school meals and the same goes for prescriptions.

Yes, I've simplified that very slightly but it's a gimmick IMO. This money could be spent far more wisely.

I would prefer to send my dcs with a packed lunch tbh, I don't really call some of the things they serve for school dinners healthy and we eat a cooked meal together in the evenings anyway. Its just a gimmick to win votes imo.

And they all get fish fingers and chips in a Friday anyway.... Or minced/battered fish pieces.... Healthy they say?? Have you SEEN a school dinner menu?

I can't believe anyone is seriously asking this question. It isn't being rolled out to all school children due to cost, obviously.

And the 7 thing is because the children up to 7 are in infants, and this is being done for infants...

This has really annoyed me as I don't want free dinners, not being a boaster but I can afford dinner money. I dont want a load of rich kids getting fre school donners. i want my money to fund a breakfast club for kids who need it. Not me.
My school in a middle class area has 10 kids on free school meals out of 400 pupils. So a waste of money for us. Spend it where it is effective.

What did they do about zero hours contracts?? Fuck all I expect

There was me thinking it was a parents responsibility to feed their children with help available to those who need it

Stupid me.

Maybe we should just give all our children over to the state to bring up and we can have them for weekend access.

It's just occured to me that this is probably an attempt to look as though "lessons are being learnt" in the wake of the Daniel Pelka case review recently.

Bunbaker, couldn't agree more! Complete waste of money for those that can afford and are happy to provide for their children. I don't imagine it's efficient wither, you'd be better giving cash directly to parents rather than paying inflated dinner prices.
And, given that my dd (who the school insists must have a paid for school dinner in nursery) got chicken nuggets and chips with jelly and ice cream whereas my older dd got a packed lunch of homemade vegetable soup, homemade bread roll, yoghurt, melon & baby oranges.... I'd far rather being feeding them what I give them than have the school waste money giving them something I'd consider less healthy.

Imo desperate waste of money all round. If you think is a good idea you're nbu waning it for all kids but I think it's a terrible waste of money. By all means extend the free meals subsidy to more kids if you feel some aren't eating well as parents can't afford it but to all is jut crazy.

Universal benefits are better IMO. I think this is a great idea. Excellent.

Ugh, school meals are disgusting.

I don't see why anyone would disagree with this tbh. Just because some parents on paper earn more than the threshold for school dinners doesn't mean they can afford the eighty pounds a month for two children for instance to have a hot meal. Also if people disagree do they think hospital food should be charged for? Should inmates in prison be presented with a bill for food on release? Why would people begrudge a child a meal when we pay millions for murderers and rapists to be fed an watered?

With a budget of £95 billion the NHS in England wouldnt give a massive improvement with the extra £600m this is calculated to cost. Whereas free school meals for infants will make a difference to a large number of children.

Maybe those who would have paid anyway could d

Donate what they would have paid to the school?

(Stupid phone sorry)

actually I think inmates being charged board is a very good idea and one which I believe other countries (cannot recall which, I want to say Holland) do!

YANBU however, the nutritional standards do need to be inspected against and enforced as well (not by OFSTED!).

I don't agree with it. There are loads of families who can afford to pay for school dinners. I would rather the money was spent on the NHS.

This is exactly what I thought when I heard it on the news.

On Radio 4 they said it was to give canteens time to adjust to the expected increase in pupils eating school meals.

Mine won't be. The food is shite. Processed cheese? No thanks.