AIBU to think free school dinners is a waste of money

[Iwannalaylikethisforever]

Our primary school newsletter announces from September 2014 all reception children and years 1&2 will be getting free school meals. Everyone else pays usual £2 per day.
Although the government is calling for a ban on packed lunches, our school is not enforcing it.
I think free school lunches for those who need it is brilliant. I loved my free school lunches as a child.
But, so many parents are angry about it and insisting their child is too fussy to eat whats on offer at school, surely it's just a waste of tax payers money. Further more I think it's unreasonable to assume after year 2 parents and children won't benefit from trying to introduce children to a broader array of foods than they get elsewhere.

Although I too personally think is waste of money

I really am not bothered what the kids are fed, and if your kid is fussy -deal with it yourself - as opposed to dietary requirements, there is a bit difference

I still can't get my head round my my taxes are paying for the dinners for the children when their parents can well afford it

I'm not keen. I'd far rather see schools just ban shite from lunchboxes (sadly our school don't).

I also think the tiny minority of children who are being genuinely malnourished should be dealt with via social services rather than school.

I don't think anybody should be able to go through a child's lunch box and police it.

If a child is suffering ill health or at risk of harm from lack of food deal with it using the laws we already have.

Widen the scope of FSM to include those on WTC so they can have them if they want.

But other than that back the fuck off the vast majority of parents who do have healthy well fed unneglected children.

The last state school I had the chance to have a look at the school dinners at,served up crap I would not feed a pig, one chicken nugget and a pile of over cooked soggy mixed veg,or a dried out 2 inch bit of fish with about 7 chips!

I think yabu. Many working poor with similar incomes to those getting fsm do not qualify. I would rather it be provided for all not just ks1. Maybe reduce child benefit threshold again to pay for it. I would also expect standards to rise with economy of scale.

If people don't want it they can still opt out.

Our school kitchen can not cope with the meals that are taken up now. The head has said she has no idea how it will cope if all KS1 take up FSM and she has also said that the money that school will get for these meals will only cover a very basic and boring menu, not the healthy stuff the government is going on about...

If the schools DO ban packed lunches, I feel that this will be VERY divisive for those that have allergies, as those with packed lunches for medical reasons will no doubt HAVE to eat elsewhere, as otherwise some of the other young children will get upset at being made to have school dinners rather than being allowed to bring in a packed lunch.

I don't think those with packed lunches for medical reasons would have to eat elsewhere. Children in school very quickly learn that different children have different needs.

They understand that Bob gets lots of stickers because, for him, sitting still is difficult. They understand that we ignore it when Susie makes loud noises because, for her, it's hard to keep quiet all the time, etc.

This is all part of inclusion which children are very familiar with in school and adapt to easily on the whole. They will understand that Joe has a different lunch because, for him, that is the best option.

Maybe reduce child benefit threshold again to pay for it

I'm sure that would go down well very of people would rather keep their child benefit and send a packed lunch. And you know, help feed their yr three child who doesn't qualify.

Many, not very