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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Gileswithachainsaw · 18/05/2017 16:29

I think the breakfasts is a stupid idea too. For all the reasons already stated.

Again when people are living such hellish lives and still unable to afford basics like food and can't afford to top up what schools are now unable to provide resource wise, providing a breakfast to a load of kids who don't need it and all the costs of would entail is such a waste.

tinypop4 · 18/05/2017 16:30

I have a thorough hatred of the Tories and most of their policies but this one I can't get excited about. I don't believe in Universal Free School Meals anyway- most children have parents who can afford to provide a healthy packed lunch or pay for a school dinner. Those that cannot were already entitled to a free school meal, as they should continue to be. It's wasteful and I'd rather see the money spent on other things in education that need it.

swirlywind · 18/05/2017 16:30

yomellamoHelly and others who have cheered this, why does it affect you that others chose the free lunches as long as you had the choice to give packed lunch if you preferred this? Do you believe that the money will be reinvested in school or are you just glad that others won't get them anymore?

GreenGinger2 · 18/05/2017 16:38

I'm just glad the money will no longer be frittered. Would like it to go anywhere other than towards free food for those that don't need it.

Raise the threshold,give more to those on fsm in secondary,put it into the NHS...anywhere I really don't care but don't waste money on those that don't need it.

Gileswithachainsaw · 18/05/2017 16:40

It's not about being glad people aren't getting them any more. It's about all the wasted time and money trying to hide problems rather than dealing with the problems.

And the fact that the people it was meant to help are still being negatively affected by the very "solution"

EpoxyResin · 18/05/2017 16:43

I'm just glad the money will no longer be frittered. Would like it to go anywhere other than towards free food for those that don't need it.

...except they'll use it for breakfast instead Confused

GloriaGilbert · 18/05/2017 16:47

I see the state providing the basics required by all members of society (because I believe everyone within a society contributes to its success, even if their contribution does not make them independently wealthy), so not just the "needy" are provided for by the state. EVERYONE - rich or poor - is provided for as a basic right.

Not a natural-born Tory, then? Wink

I think the breakfasts is a stupid idea too. For all the reasons already stated.

Agreed, and it's going to be a bunch of crap. It will consist of cereal & white bread.

CheeseQueen · 18/05/2017 17:01

I'm just glad the money will no longer be frittered. Would like it to go anywhere other than towards free food for those that don't need it.

...except they'll use it for breakfast instead Confused

Maybe the breakfasts have been proposed to appease those who would be up in arms that they're being taken away?
If people are insistent on feeding the children of people who don't need or want the money and can feed them healthily and well themselves, I'd rather everyone got a breakfast. Going to school with no food inside you until lunchtime is surely worse in my opinion.
My kids will have a good breakfast at home, and I'll happily send them with a lunch/pay for their lunch. If you're still insisting that they need feeding though, I'd rather breakfasts are offered as far too many kids go to school with an empty stomach and no breakfast, so no food until lunchtime.

RainbowsAndUnicorn · 18/05/2017 17:05

The free breakfast part is just as silly as free lunches. Parents should provide the food a child needs and if they don't then the relevant authorities need to be involved as it's a basic of parenting. That's the only extent in which the schools should be involved.

PuckeredAhole · 18/05/2017 17:08

Looking at these posts it's clear the kind of people labour voters are - kneejerk reactionists who want to find fault in everything Tory.

You've been shown you're wrong about FSM and winter fuel allowance being scrapped for everyone. It's not.

For the pp who asked mockingly how you find out about FSM uptake...all you have to do is obtain school data. Not hard.

Vickster99 · 18/05/2017 17:10

The cost implications of breakfast are presumably higher - you need extra staff at 8 am or 8.30am to provide the breakfast and supervise the children...surely that costs more than the saving from providing breakfast instead of lunch?

I agree with all kids getting a healthy hot lunch but think most of us would rather give them breakfast at home

PuckeredAhole · 18/05/2017 17:14

Hate to burst people's bubble but breakfast is more about enabling parents to work. It's not for the children who'll get a bagel and juice most likely.. If breakfast is from 8am, heck even 8.30am instead of getting the students from 9, that encourages parents into work. The amount of parents who use out of school care before school in my area supports this in my eyes.

PuckeredAhole · 18/05/2017 17:16

I'm a teacher and in work around 750/8. I have to drop my kids off at OOSC which I pay for. Other colleagues get in earlier. We'd be put on breakfast duty at no extra cost. Just the cost of the bagel. Juice too.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 18/05/2017 17:19

Agreed, and it's going to be a bunch of crap. It will consist of cereal & white bread.

Glad you know exactly what it is going to be before anyone else does.[hmmm]

I was thinking the same MrsGame. I've certainly reevaluated my views on some posters.

Right ok [hmmm]

CheeseQueen · 18/05/2017 17:21

Hate to burst people's bubble but breakfast is more about enabling parents to work. It's not for the children who'll get a bagel and juice most likely.. If breakfast is from 8am, heck even 8.30am instead of getting the students from 9, that encourages parents into work.

Good point. So, from my point of view that's another bonus! I'm a SAHM who would love to go back to work but childcare costs make it impossible to do.
Free breakfasts for kids who go to school hungry, free childcare for those who need before school care in order to work.
Winner for both scenarios.

TheNiffler · 18/05/2017 17:23

Hardly Pukered. Privileged background, private schools, my sister went to a decent boarding school. Ponies, pony club, tennis lessons, piano lessons, ballet. Parents v wealthy, lived just outside a v 'naice' village. We owned the farm next to us, and tenanted it out. Father worked in the City, mother SAHM. Typical MC Tory voting household in fact.

I prefer to make my own mind up though, and the older I get, and the more I experience of life, the further I draw away from that mindset. I'm very much a green socialist, and so are both my daughters. We have a social conscience, we genuinely care about other people, and the environment. It's not at all knee jerk.

And I do agree, FSM for all is unnecessary, as is this breakfast idea. BUT without singling children out for free breakfasts, how else do you ensure that the poorest, or least advantaged children get something to eat before school? I can see why it's for all, so there's no discrimination or stigma, as there was once with FSM.

55% of people living in poverty come from working households. Socialism is not about shoring up the workshy, the feckless, etc. It's about giving everyone a basic level playing field that's livable. Nothing wrong with that at all. Certainly not reactionary, not something to snort over and make jokes about blowjobs (really rather surprised at you there MaQ, I didn't have you down as quite so catty or superficial and snobby).

RufusTheRenegadeReindeer · 18/05/2017 17:38

piglet

I doubt its going to be a cooked breakfast so cereal and toast is about all thats left

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 18/05/2017 17:41

theniffler a lot of those working households won't qualify for fsm though as they get WTC.

aquashiv · 18/05/2017 17:42

I would rather they spend money on improving outcomes for SEN kids or the NHS than free school meals. Its a waste of money.

TheNiffler · 18/05/2017 17:43

Nope. Still qualify for the food bank though. It's utterly shameful that working families are having to use food banks.

QuiteUnfitBit · 18/05/2017 17:49

really rather surprised at you there MaQ, I didn't have you down as quite so catty or superficial and snobby
You see, I hate all these little remarks that get added to the debate, on whichever side. Can people not stick to the issues? Sad

TheNiffler · 18/05/2017 17:51

No, sometimes people need calling out on their nasty posts.

Gileswithachainsaw · 18/05/2017 17:51

That's what I was trying to say earlier niffler

That it really shouldn't be tht people have jobs and can't afford to live or that people are in such shitty situations and remain so unsupported whilst a bunch of people who don't even need the help get it and there's no money to help people not end up in such shit situations bit there's money to hide people away and provide good for people with no needs.

QuiteUnfitBit · 18/05/2017 17:54

No, sometimes people need calling out on their nasty posts.
Then you would say that you found the post superficial, surely, not add a catty post yourself. Grin

TheNiffler · 18/05/2017 17:54

Completely agree with you, Giles. And life is surprisingly fragile, it still really doesn't take much to tip from plenty to poverty.

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