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Original poster

Tories going to axe free school meals

640 replies

cannotbelievethistoday · 18/05/2017 06:46

So I have 2 children in private school.

Labour want to put VAT on private school fees, and extend free school meals to all primary children.

Tories are going to remove infant free school meals.

Bloody hell. And still people will vote Tory.

(My 2 kids are in private school - I totally agree with labour on this one)

OP posts:
EpoxyResin · 18/05/2017 10:51

I don't think it's about dignity - the children just say to the class teacher "I'm a packed lunch" or "I'm a dinner" when doing the registration, not "I'm free school meals miss..."

The dignity of the parent, not the dignity of the child.

EpoxyResin · 18/05/2017 10:53

We are all hunter gatherers so get on with hunting and gathering and it's sink or swim whether you survive

Ummm, actually we're all part of a sociable society-based species who rely on utilising the strengths and weaknesses of others to sustain the group community as a whole. But hey, you want to hunter-gather out there all on your own, see if you sink or swim next time you need a doctor.

origamiwarrior · 18/05/2017 10:55

When you have finished trying to patronise me with your superior intellect, they will scrap the second too as they are gradually reducing all core policies which protect the poor and needy.

I was responding to your patronising comment to edsheeran: Okay? clear enough. Or google it.

You made a mistake. Own it.

I can't comment on what the Tories will do in years to come (yes, I expect they will withdraw all their core policies, thy're pretty unpleasant like that) but I was commenting on what they have put in their manifesto, which is that they will scrap universal free school meals for KS1, introduce universal free school breakfasts throughout KS1 and KS2, and maintain the status quo with regards to means-tested free school meals.

ClarkWGriswold · 18/05/2017 10:56

Ummm, actually we're all part of a sociable society-based species who rely on utilising the strengths and weaknesses of others to sustain the group community as a whole. But hey, you want to hunter-gather out there all on your own, see if you sink or swim next time you need a doctor
Confused way to miss the point there.

Colacolaaddict · 18/05/2017 10:56

I don't think Lab or Tories have got this one right. Universal free meals are a colossal waste of money that would be better spent elsewhere in schools, so I don't favour extending them. However the threshold for Pupil Premium / what was means tested FSM is far, far too low. Too many people are above the threshold but really struggling, and we should be targetting the help at them. It's not just school dinners, it's trips, needing 2 pairs of trainers, wellies and sleeping bag for a residentials etc, music lessons.

EpoxyResin · 18/05/2017 10:57

Clark I'd already addressed you other point in a previous post.

Chaotica · 18/05/2017 10:58

Actually, Odins my children were in a state school which is in about the lowest 5% in the country (bottom in the county) we stuck it out, it got better and has given them a much better education than they'd have got by sending them private. I am about the only middle class parent who did stick it out though.

Bring on private school VAT!

And I totally agree that universal provision in KS1 is needed because a lot of children benefit from free school meals who don't qualify for them (the working poor, people who don't know how to register etc).

Headofthehive55 · 18/05/2017 10:59

I think you over think it.
I doubt the parent stands in the school playground and announces it.
People ask for help for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes financial, sometimes practical.

Gileswithachainsaw · 18/05/2017 11:00

Because standards have now dropped in many places because of the increased demand. So now they are waiting longer for food that is now worse.

And it doesn't matter to those who get fed at home cos there's no reliance on it. But companies pulling out because they can't meet the increased demand and lower quality food having to be purchased means that for the child who needed that meal is not eating as well as they did before. And I actually do think all children deserve better than what's being served.

origamiwarrior · 18/05/2017 11:00

Totally agree Colacolaaddict

I couldn't vote for either policy

SusannahL · 18/05/2017 11:00

'Tories are going to axe free school meals'

GOOD. If you can't afford to feed your children, then don't have children.

It really is as simple as that

EpoxyResin · 18/05/2017 11:01

I think you over think it. I doubt the parent stands in the school playground and announces it.

Do you know a lot of people who claim benefits?

JamieXeed74 · 18/05/2017 11:03

I think its disgusting that Corbyn is happy to give away our money to people who dont need it and put us all into more debt.

May seems to be a lot more intelligent and fairer in spending money on those that need it whilst also trying to get us out of debt.

Hopefully Jeremy will hang on in as opposition leader after the election so we can look forward to a proper government for decades to come.

GloriaGilbert · 18/05/2017 11:03

Epoxy how on earth is the government supposed to protect the dignity of those in receipt of means-tested benefits? Would you like to make everything universal?

If the children were marked out as FSM, you'd have a good point. As they're not, you don't.

OdinsLoveChild · 18/05/2017 11:05

Chaotica I have stuck with it....3 childrens worth and I've had enough. The school was dreadful 20 years ago when my 1st went and it hasn't improved at all. It was merged with another school and got worse then taken over by an academy chain, still no improvement, DofE stepped in with a management team, still no improvement and now its on its last legs with a different academy chain to try and drag it out of the pit.
They cant close it because its the only high school in the area with the next closest 8 miles away. It has 2000 pupils so nowhere for them to go. Its beyond help.

Headofthehive55 · 18/05/2017 11:05

I imagine there are quite a few at my children's school. I could hazard a guess but I'm not that nosey!

EpoxyResin · 18/05/2017 11:07

I think its disgusting that Corbyn is happy to give away our money to people who dont need it and put us all into more debt.

The Tories have plunged us deeper into debt BTW, if you think national debt is important.

Personally I think people get a bot confused about government debt, in that the liken it to household debt. "Debt" is a very emotive work with extremely negative connotations, but in reality the two are extremely dissimilar from an economic point of view. Just Google "national debt good or bad".

EpoxyResin · 18/05/2017 11:11

Would you like to make everything universal?

No Gloria, I'm not an extreme socialist, but I do think the method of means testing some benefits is deliberately shaming (not FSM actually, but others), and I think some benefits are more emotionally charged than others. I mostly think that the start the state provide children with should be as universal as possible and not dependant on what their parents have and haven't got. Obviously at home a child's start is very much governed by this, but when they're in a place necessitated by and provided for by the state I think it should be universal.

makeourfuture · 18/05/2017 11:11

Personally I think people get a bot confused about government debt, in that the liken it to household debt. "Debt" is a very emotive work with extremely negative connotations, but in reality the two are extremely dissimilar from an economic point of view. Just Google "national debt good or bad".

I agree, the Tories should not be able to "own" the idea of debt.

Well, maybe they should....they keep driving us deeper into it.

EpoxyResin · 18/05/2017 11:13

I agree, the Tories should not be able to "own" the idea of debt.

They've sold everyone a right kipper with that one! The only saving grace, like you say, is that they've continued to drive us deeper into the monster they've created.

BaronessEllaSaturday · 18/05/2017 11:14

I would be happier if they scrapped the exclusion of claiming WTC from FSM. Some of the working poor struggle a lot more than those not working.

MusicToMyEars800 · 18/05/2017 11:16

The meals at DDs school are awful. Tiny portions and horrible quality. Ive now started sending her with a packed lunch.

Oblomov17 · 18/05/2017 11:17

I agree with taking away infant school meals, for all.
For those really in need, below a certain income the old fashioned 'free school meals' is of course right.
But labour gave it to all families was just a cheap trick to win over voters. dh and I are on a reasonable income and at the time, I saw it as a cheap trick, to win votes.
I agree with it being taken away. The money could be better spent elsewhere.

JamieXeed74 · 18/05/2017 11:18

The Tories have plunged us deeper into debt BTW, if you think national debt is important

I have never got the idea that socialists complain the Tories and Lib Dems have got us into more debt, yet they simultaneously think we should borrow more money. Confused

The deficit has come down massively and I want it to keep coming down until the debt is being reduced. I dont want fiscal flusies like Jeremy putting the deficit and ours children's debt back up all over again.

MusicToMyEars800 · 18/05/2017 11:20

it's not like the school meals are expensive £2.50 I believe, so it would cost me £15 a week ( I have 2 dds ).