to think the new free school meals for all KS1 children is a ridiculous idea?

[Flexibilityiskey]

I just don't see the rational behind it, when benefits are being cut to the bone, why give free school meals to people who don't need them? Yes it may benefit the odd family but there will be loads who just don't need free meals, and at what cost? My DS's school will have to build a new kitchen as they currently don't have the facility to provide hot meals. There must be loads of schools with similar issues. Add to that the cost of feeding all the children in KS1 for each school year, the cost must run into millions. Surely the money could be better spent being targeted at those who genuinely need it or am I missing something?

It's a waste of money. School meals are rarely a healthier alternative (whatever data government funded studies 'pack of lies' might demonstrate -1 item of veg? Just 1, no need for the fruit snack anymore?!- ). The additional funding should be to support families in need (in need as a result of current government benefit policies no doubt). The government is just trying to grab the positive image of foodbanks.

(Ps I wont be taking it up, we don't get any CB and I really don't agree with this policy as it is based in an assumption parents are too stupid to feed their children well. Nanny state bull as well as wasting tax that should be for families in need).

All well and good if the meals are actually healthy. Having worked in a school for six years when mine were little, they took packed lunches, as neither they nor I liked what was being offered. But free school meals for any child who might need or benefit from them is great, if this may be the only hot meal they eat during the day. Not for all, I agree.

But as for Yes it may benefit the odd family but there will be loads who just don't need free meals, and at what cost - the same could be said for Child Benefit! It benefits the odd family, but there are loads who just don't need it. IMV, this is an unnecessary benefit, unless it is really needed.

CB already isn't paid to families who don't need it (though admittedly a lot of people duck under the threshold because it should be household based).

Why didn't they just increase the criteria for receiving FSMs to include people who get tax credits? That way the free meals would go to all children who might need them not just infant age.

SeaSavage ^You get Child Benefit if you’re responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training).

Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.

You must report any change of circumstances to the Child Benefit Office.

You may have to pay a tax charge if your or your partner’s individual income is over £50,000^

From the Government website.

Dd starts next year and so far they haven't been able to set up for hot meals so it will be a packed lunch so not much help for any starving kids or not as good as a nice hot meal.
Personally I'd rather just make my own.

It is a good idea to ensure children get at least one hot meal a day during the week. But that IMO is where the benefit stops. I doubt the quality of the meals will improve at all as a lot of schools just aren't equipped to deal with the food preperation/storage/reheating/serving and as result the schools will have to spend precious funds rectifying this. It won't change what the 'food uneducated' parents feed their children out of school which means the childhood obesity crisis will not be solved. After KS1, parents will have find over £10 per week, per child to continue school meals, something that could prove impossible for a lot of families, including us.
My DD (year 1) will not be having free school meals as she doesn't like them. The menu is stodge-laden, and uninspiring. I am quite capable of making a healthy lunchbox (some great threads on MN have helped here!) and it costs way less per week that school meals.

Its just a scheme to get votes as far as I can see. The backlash will begin when the meals are no longer free, which is pretty much bound to happen when the coalition are put out.