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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this isn't ok at breakfast club?

275 replies

makeitpink · 29/06/2016 07:36

My children both go to breakfast club Monday to Friday and are there by 8am so that I can get to work on time. They have breakfast there so that they don't have to get up so early at home. I happened to stay a little longer dropping them off yesterday and saw what they are given for 'breakfast' it was 1 piece of (heavily) buttered (Marg) toast and a carton of fruit juice.

AIBU to think this isn't a)enough b)very healthy??? I am prepared to be told that if I don't like it I should give them breakfast at home which is what I'm going to do now but still!! This is supposed to give children a good start to their day no? Also they charge for breakfast so I would expect cereal, yogurt maybe the odd piece of fruit?!

OP posts:
JeanGenie23 · 29/06/2016 16:15

It's down to the headteacher how they charge. I have two local primary schools, one doesn't offer breakfast club at all because the headteacher thinks the day is far too long for the kids. It is long But what parent really can work 9.30-3?

Hiddenaspie1973 · 29/06/2016 16:22

That's not great. DD used to get cereal yoghurt toast juice.
It went up to £3 including care from 07:45 - 08:40.

It was great. C.minder would charge 4.5 per hour from 0730 without breakfast.

startwig1982 · 29/06/2016 16:33

My ds goes to breakfast club for £3.50, 3 mornings a week. He has breakfast at home first but they offer:
Milk
Fruit juice
4 x cereals
Toast
Crumpets
Croissants
Eggs
Bacon sandwiches at the end of term

He loves it and they do really nice activities until school starts.

Fresta · 29/06/2016 16:41

The breakfast club at our school is operated as a non profit making business. It isn't free because staff and food have to be paid for. Maybe some schools subsidise it through school fundraising or otherwise. There isn't a standard format as breakfast clubs are not a statutory requirement- they may be provided by school staff, out of school clubs, or even parent volunteers.

Sallystyle · 29/06/2016 17:02

My 7 year old gets breakfast at school every day for free. She has her main breakfast at home though.

They offer milk, fruit juice, crumpets, toast, jams and cereals.

And that's just something they do before registration.

BoGrainger · 29/06/2016 17:11

So has op found out from her dc if this is normal and if so are they ok with it or are they starving by lunch time? Also how long have they been there without anyone finding out what breakfast consists of? I would've thought this would be on the blurb when applying.

Serenitymummy · 29/06/2016 17:15

Blimey 50p breakfast club sounds amazing! My ds's is £4.25 an hour, same as his nursery sessions. Breakfast included in that though, and unlimited toast with various toppings, choice of cereals, fruit, choice of juice and milk. I thought that was great. He loves it, gets to mix with some older kids as nursery attached to school and club is for all, and he gets to go into nursery before everyone else and helps 'set up' with the staff.

LunaLoveg00d · 29/06/2016 17:25

None of the schools round here have breakfast clubs. There is "before school care", but this is not run by the Council or the schools and doesn't always take place inside the school (the one which serves our school runs in a local sports club and they walk the children the 10 minutes to school at 8.45am). I have no idea whether the children are offered food or not - I suspect not.

Freshprincess · 29/06/2016 17:25

The breakfast club my DTs used to go to at primary was £3.50. It was like an all you can Premier Inn Breakfast buffet.
A cupboard full of cereal, toast, pancakes, crumpets. Beans on toast, bacon butties. Juice, milk, fruit. they operated a suggestion box type thing where the kids could request food and so long as it wasn't too outlandish they'd get it in.

exLtEveDallas · 29/06/2016 17:32

DDs school is £5.00 per day, from 0730 to 0845 or part thereof. Kids get a choice of toast (2 slices), bowl of cereal or crumpets (2). Spread is marge not butter, and we have jam or marmite. Cereals are cornflakes, Rice Krispies, weetabix or coco pops. They can also have fruit (leftovers from nursery fruits - usually banana, Apple, tangerine or tomato). I know all this because I used to do the Sainsburys order Smile. It's run by the school with 2 TAs being paid overtime to work it (hence the cost). The kids get to watch cartoons, draw, read or play on iPads. Lots of them don't eat as the parents just need the childcare option rather than the food IYSWIM.

School I'm currently at charges £5.50 and is run by an outside company using a dedicated building attached to the school. Same sort of breakfast items but I think they also do yoghurts and croissants.

hewl · 29/06/2016 17:33

I'd make it at home even if we all had to get up earlier. One slice of toast and marg for breakfast makes me want to cry.

Primary aged dd had Porridge, toast and peanut butter and banana and hot chocolate made with blue milk this morning and that s normal

IthinkIamsinking · 29/06/2016 17:47

I'd be calling Ofsted if I were you OP, that's not healthy or filling
Hmm Wow.

OP.... give something at home but certainly ask them why they don't offer anything more substantial. My two used to have cereal, toast some fruit and a drink.

Original poster
makeitpink · 29/06/2016 18:07

Oh my gosh what an epic response!! So let me address some of the queries (please bear in mind I have done a full day's work and I don't mean to sound pissy!!)

  1. Today's offering was a fried egg on toast or beans on toast (again only one piece?!) I don't think a fried egg is great either for various reasons. But hey ho atleast it's not just toast!
  1. I don't control my kids portions they eat until they have had enough and this can depend on the day e.g sometimes they just have a yogurt for breakfast other times they may have scrambled egg on toast, cereal and a piece of fruit it does depend!
  1. My kids do a lot of sport and aren't fat and I don't want them to worry about anything except about recognising that 'full' feeling and eating to fuel their bodies, they don't eat out of boredom.
  1. I am a single mother and I work full time. I start at 8.30am and finish at 5pm and I work 45mins away from the school so breakfast club is a necessity and not a luxury as is after school club. I don't have the option to flexible working at the moment but I am looking into changing my work base to be closer to home. - id like to add that I provide my kids with a home cooked meal in the evening and I make a lunchbox for them so please forgive me for wanting a little less pressure in the mornings!!
  1. I will be giving my children their breakfast at home from now on as I have discovered that the breakfast club doesn't meet what I want MY children to have. That's my choice, I will get up earlier, pack their school bags etc and put out their breakfast so that they can still get up at the same time.

Did I cover everything?!

OP posts:
WaxyBean · 29/06/2016 18:14

Ours does weetabix, shredded wheat, porridge ie Those cereals with Les sugar. Mine used to see breakfast club as a treat cos they got coco pops - not so now! A right pain as it used to make the pain of having to get to work early on the odd occasion much easier, but now is a drama as they would rather eat breakfast at home.

WorraLiberty · 29/06/2016 18:29

Today's offering was a fried egg on toast or beans on toast (again only one piece?!) I don't think a fried egg is great either for various reasons. But hey ho atleast it's not just toast!

That sounds perfect to me.

Original poster
makeitpink · 29/06/2016 18:33

The fried eggs looked quite greasy. What I would like to see is an option of cereals, fruit, yogurt and toast with milk or fruit juice to drink. Obviously don't expect children to eat all of this! Cooked breakfast is nice occasionally but scrambled or poached/boiled egg not fried! Maybe I am BU?!

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 29/06/2016 18:41

A bit fussy maybe.

This is just one meal out of 3 and as long as you teach your kids about healthy choices, they'll probably opt for the beans more often than the egg.

I wouldn't mind my kids choosing either and one piece of toast with egg or beans would be enough to see them through til lunchtime.

RubbleBubble00 · 29/06/2016 18:43

Crikey ours is £2 each and they can choose from different cereal then toast/muffin/crumpet. I give mine a banana when we get up so gets a bit a fruit into them

RubbleBubble00 · 29/06/2016 18:51

I'd be happy enough with egg on toast or beans. If they are fit an active a little oil on egg won't hurt.

I would just keep doing breakfast club. Give them a bit of fruit to eat in car on way there, you could make your own breakfast cereal bars so they too could be grabbed and eaten in the car

icelollycraving · 29/06/2016 18:55

Ds' is £9.50. He gets dropped off at 7, there is always juice & cereal,sometimes croissants/pancakes/crumpets.

NotMyMoney · 29/06/2016 18:59

Ours is 50p a child for 35 minutes, the have porridge, yogurts, cereal, fruit, muffins and toast with smoothies, milk or water as much as they want! Cheaper than feeding them at home and I can join them if I wanted!

Hulababy · 29/06/2016 19:00

Ours (where I work) is a bit cheaper and they get a choice of:

  • toast

  • cereals (porridge, weetabix, shreddies and maybe another one but can't remember)

  • crumpet

  • milk

  • water

  • fruit juice

Children get to ask what they want, and can return for second portions if still hungry.

There is no kitchen near to our breakfast club so porridge is done in a microwave which is carried in each morning, and they have toasters brought into the room too. They would like to be able to offer their hot food such as bacon or eggs, etc but it isn't possible at the moment.

Shesinfashion · 29/06/2016 19:02

Breakfast club is £8.50 here. I'd not be happy with one slice of toast and juice although some children will prefer toast to cereal. My kids have cereal, jam and toast and a piece of fruit.

PastaLaFeasta · 29/06/2016 19:17

Apparently fried eggs are a healthy ways to eat eggs as they don't absorb the oil/butter, unlike scambled or omelettes. Although I agree it isn't a big enough breakfast for many kids, especially as they get older.

HooseRice · 29/06/2016 19:22

Fried eggs are about 50 cals each according to MFP so that sounds about right.