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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:
paranoidmother · 30/06/2016 17:40

So our school- I help run breakfast club give the following options. Choice of 4-6 cereals, toast (3-4 different topping options and they start with 1 or 2 slices), yogurt, fruit, waffles or crumpets, juice/squash/milk (hot choc in winter).
I think it's not too bad.

Mynameisdominoharvey · 30/06/2016 17:40

YANBU my not even 2 year old has a slice of toast, yogurt, juice and sometimes cereal and milk for breakfast, op they are taking the piss at nearly £10 per day for your two DC I would be having serious words

Mynameisdominoharvey · 30/06/2016 17:42

paranoid your school's breakfast sounds lovely I'd happily eat there each morning Grin

tiggersreturn · 30/06/2016 17:43

Wow! It took ages to get a breakfast club in our school and then they only offered things that were in my view unhealthy. Cocoa pops, frosties, cornflakes and toast with a choice of jam, chocolate spread or horrors of horrors peanut butter on top. Juice to drink. After a lot of arguing and being assured this was what all schools did i negotiated butter and a healthier cereal on. They've now cut back the food and are doubling the price.

Katherine2626 · 30/06/2016 17:47

Marg is appalling stuff - evidently not far removed from plastic in its composition, and I understand flies don't bother with it! The breakfast should include cereal and milk, and some fruit - bananas and apples could hardly be easier or a yogurt. If you are going to work you need to know that your child has had a nutritious breakfast, enough to keep them going until lunchtime. I would go straight to the Head Teacher with this.

Craigie · 30/06/2016 18:07

Did it never occur to you to ask what they had for breakfast, and are you sure this is what they have every day?

Coulditbeme · 30/06/2016 18:07

At our school breakfast club is £20 a week and they get cereal, a slice of toast and a choice of milk or juice for that/.

OhLaVache · 30/06/2016 18:08

Christ on a bike! That's a lot for money for a crap breakfast. YANBU. Time for a letter to the head.

Mynameisdominoharvey · 30/06/2016 18:08

Katherine you are so right about marg.... that stuff is just vile...it is a few molecules away from plastic!

lozster · 30/06/2016 18:11

My first thought was that it sounded dismal but then I remembered that my 3 year old's nursery gives toast or cereal at 8.30. I'm not thrilled with that however I haven't brought it up as fruit is provided as a snack and lunch/tea are all home cooked by a chef. I guess it's about balance through the day. The nursery menu has been commended by ofsted.

Galena · 30/06/2016 18:18

DD's breakfast club is £1.50 a day from 8 - 8.50 am. She is offered:
Bread/toast with chocolate spread, lemon curd, jam or butter
Cereals (cheerios, weetabix, cornflakes) with milk
Crumpets
Pancakes
Squash, water or milk
Then there is also a hot option each day which could be:
Sausage sandwich, fried egg, spaghetti or beans on toast
Sometimes fruit and yoghurt

Children are allowed to choose 1 breakfast. They can choose whether they want 1 or 2 slices of toast/crumpets/pancakes if that is what they choose.

pollymere · 30/06/2016 18:18

I nearly sent my daughter to one that only offered toast. My one at school used to supply cereals, yoghurts and fresh fruit as well. Ask why they don't offer cereal at least.

WorraLiberty · 30/06/2016 18:21

To be fair the OP has said that yesterday they got egg on toast or beans on toast.

Having said that, she'd be right to make enquiries as to why her kids only got 1 slice of toast the other day.

lozster · 30/06/2016 18:22

Thing is, you can't really pick and choose with pre/after school? Or find a childminder? Unless you change school too? There are no childminders near me so when my boy goes to school we will have to like it or lump it whilst being grateful that we can even go as apparently there is a wait list Sad

Original poster
makeitpink · 30/06/2016 18:33

'Did it never occur to you to ask what they had for breakfast' what the actual F**K are you on?! When I pick my kids up from after school club at 6pm they can barely remember what they did in the afternoon let alone what happened at 8am that morning! So yes it does occur to me however it's more important to me to hear about their day, what they learnt! I'd rather listen to my kid explain what a natural disaster is rather than talk about what he had for breakfast!!!!!!!!
And yes I do feel bad that my kids are in school from 8am to 6pm but you know what momma has to work!!!!!! And please forgive me for expecting the school to provide a varied and nutritious breakfast so that that is one this I don't have to worry about!

OP posts:
Floey · 30/06/2016 18:36

I worked at my school breakfast club for a term. I was horrified by the offer...white bread, sugary cereals. But they had tried healthier options and thrown them away uneaten. It is probably a case of serving what they know the kids will eat, thought the portion size is poor. Do they give seconds if requested?

Whatsername17 · 30/06/2016 18:38

Ours is the same price and they get cereal, toast and fruit. Dd goes to after school club for the same price (instead of breakfast club but run by the same people) and tea is sandwiches, veggie sticks, fruit and a biscuit. Id complain if I were you.

Lilacpink40 · 30/06/2016 18:41

South West large primary and its £2.50 per child, 7.30-8.30am lots of choice. Bacon sarnies some mornings!

Outnumb3red · 30/06/2016 18:45

Our breakfast club is 35p. Soon to be increased to 80p I think. They get cereal, toast and juice/milk.

Maireadplastic · 30/06/2016 18:54

Do not call Ofsted. Take it up with the school. Talk to your child's teacher (as well as senior leadership), get their thoughts on a decent breakfast then ask if they could support you in helping the children. Talk to your PTA too. Rather than attack, frame it as a positive change FOR your school.
As my mother says- you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Rainbow · 30/06/2016 18:56

YANBU. I run our school breakfast club. We charge £2 per child per day and children can choose what they want fromantic toasted bagel, cereal, yoghurt fruit. If they want cereal and bagel thanks fine. The only rule is if they take it they eat it 😊

aurorie11 · 30/06/2016 18:57

Is the breakfast club run by the school? Our BC sublet space from the school, the contract is with the BC not the school

Original poster
makeitpink · 30/06/2016 19:05

I'm going to go in and speak to them. I tried to speak to someone yesterday but the office closes before I get there.

OP posts:
Beeziekn33ze · 30/06/2016 19:10

Last primary school I worked had a flourishing BC with plenty of variety. The kitchen also sold slices of (spreaded) toast, with or without jam, for 20p both before school and at morning break.
The dinner menu was posted each week, healthy food a priority, plus there was a well patronised salad bar.
Happy healthy pupils at that school.

Enjoyingthepeace · 30/06/2016 19:14

My two, 6 and 3.5 have enormous breakfasts. Medium sized bowl of plain porridge, slice of wholesale toast with cream cheese, bowl of cereal with whole milk. Glass of water. Then they get dressed, and then I give them a bowl of fruit salad.

My daughter is a very average looking three year old. My son is as skinny as a rake, skinniest in his class i would say.

I love them setting off to school with their belly food of good food. Sets them up well for the day.