Breakfast club AIBU (Wales one)

[oohlalala]

Can someone please explain in easy English why some schools in Wales give out free breakfasts to the children, irrespective of circumstance, but some choose not to?

For some reason DC's school charge for this service. I wouldn't mind except I have heard friends bragging about sending their kids to them when they are not in work so they can have a nice relaxing breakfast at home, when we have to pay for this privilege just to make it to work on time. The bill really mounts up quickly too.

If theres a reasonable explanation I will concede that its fair enough, but would just like to understand why some do & some don't really.

Why should your friend be apologetic though?
I understand it must be annoying for you having to pay but it's not your friends fault.

Free breakfasts are given in deprived areas because of the number of children going to school without breakfast was very high. Our breakfast club starts at 8:10 and is 50p with loads of healthy foods and after school club is 50p but is only an hour long twice a week all run by TA's.

Our breakfast club may have loads of healthy foods but they are only allowed a small amount but unlimited toast so they tend to have some food before we set off.

Been to three schools due to house move,

First school was £2 and was amazing started at 7:30 wish we had of bought a house there

2nd school free but to far away to use. (Moved to late and got one miles away and had the appeal)

Notso I don't mind anyone who really needs it having it for free, or even paying towards it. I just resent having someone who clearly doesn't need it for either financial or work reasons rubbing it my face that they are lording the system to go to the gym. I mean the ammount we spend could fund more than two gym fees a month for me & oh. We are not wealthy by any means.

Tbh I could do with the workouts too lol

chwaraeteg, it's not like that anymore. The Welsh Assembly breakfast grant came to an end 2 years ago. Now the assembly gives the money as part of the council's general allocation - it is not earmarked or ring-fenced in any way so it's just some extra cash for the council to do as it pleases. Some councils use it to finance free breakfasts and some divert it to another, higher priority area (social care anyone?). These decisions would have been taken after scrutiny, voting etc.

Some schools are able to fundraise more, or have healthier reserves or more volunteers and so they are in a better position to subsidise breakfast or to run a breakfast club at all. HTH.

OP I would approach the school and mention the conversation you've had with your friend. Chances are you are paying for the childcare element like pp have said.

I believe its down to the local authority, im in Caerphilly and its free here. DS goes from 8.15

Breakfast is £2 starts at 8am (ones start at 7.30 are more expensive in the area). Afterschool care is £11.50.

I happy pay it as I'm paying £40 a day for daycare for younger child

And we can use childcare vouchers

Is £7 just for the morning or is it after school too?

I'm in London and it's £13.50 for before and after school - 7.45am - 5.45am. I think the am bit is £2.50. They have toast and cereal in am and some sort of snack in pm - hot dogs, soup, beans on toast etc.

You have no reason to be annoyed with this woman at all, and the fact she doesn't work and goes to the gym/has a leisurely breakfast is neither here nor there.

Nor is she 'lording the system'.

She's using the free breakfast club provided, just like all the other parents. It's not like places are allocated on a strict 'needs only' basis, or like she's taking a place away from another child.

As per my earlier post, many schools provide them for free because they massively improve punctuality/attendance.

Many kids here don't 'need' to use them but they do because their friends will be there, and they like to get into school early to catch up with them before starting the school day.

wales here.
free breakfast club from 8.15 - choose 2 of toast, cereal, yoghurt - plus juice.
its run by the lunch staff.

Tbf Worral I think you're giving her too much credit. She regulary does/says things which are a bit self absorbed which is why I have chosen to distance myself. For example, never invites people to her house, but always suggests she comes to you (yay all the play date mess for me then), that she comes at lunchtime when I haven't offered to make them lunch. Suggests snacks I can fetch her DC, what her DC wants to watch on tv when they are at my house. That I pick her up in my car if we are going out. I've just had it up to here, that was one of the final straws.

Other issues you have with her are irrelevant to the breakfast club though. She isn't lying to get a place or taking a place from you. You have to pay whether her kids go or not. Move schools if it bothers you so much.
I am a SAHM before the breakfast club became oversubscribed I'd put the kids in for a one off and go out for the day with DH. It's not a crime.

No maybe not, but would you do it EVERY day for an extra half hour to yourself? If I could I'd give my DC breakfast at home.

my kids went to breakfast club when they didn't need to because they wanted to (saw it as an extra playtime with their friends). "
Likewise afterschool club aday a week.

I agree with Notso in that any other problems you have with her, have nothing to do with her using the free breakfast club, that's there for everyone to use.

Can you explain which system she is 'lording'?

Yes if I wanted an early start every day, weekday breakfast isn't especially fun. I certainly wouldn't feel guilty in terms of being a SAHP.

Wowsa's I can see I've touched a nerve here. I'm not saying that people don't deserve a break, just that the whole system is a bit unequal. To say some are entitled and others aren't without actually checking circumstances is pretty rubbish. I mean we don't have a massive household income, we both work, myself part time. We spend over £80 a month on breakfast club for one child (this doesn't include after school club) We have another in nursery btw so I am fully aware how much that costs. Over half my salary goes out on childcare. When I am off I do breakfast at home as DC not only prefers it, but is more economical. I wish I could do it every day as would save a small fortune each year. Just is a bit sucky that other schools provide this at either a knock down rate or for free and apparently we're not eligable. Sucks even more when someone you know, who knows you have to pay is raving about having it or sweet fa and lives in the same LA area.

Ours is £4.50 from 8am, school starts at 8.45 so it's 45 minutes of care and some toast or cereal. Needs must though!

My 2 are 19 and 20 now but breakfast clubs were an absolute godsend to me. Free, open from 8, as a working parent I was able to send them in and get to work knowing that they were safe and having something to eat. As we lived in a Communities First area their Primary School was one of the pilots to have the scheme. Although it was meant in the beginning for children who otherwise weren't having breakfast (I actually challenged the original parental letter to then WAG) it helped so many families in lots of ways.
It's such a shame that due to funding schools have had to withdraw this vital service, both for children with hungry tummies and/or working parents.