Free school meals

[heatseeker14]

Why do KS1 kids get free school meals? I think it is such a waste of public money. I can't understand why it is still being pushed? I understand that some parents struggle, I get that, but why open it up to everyone else?! Our school doesn't have a functioning kitchen, the best they can churn out is tinned hot dogs, so they buy in meals from a catering company. This must cost a fortune & it makes me mad. Why should tax payers fund school meals, it is up to parents to provide for their kids. Set a good example and cook decent food it is not that difficult!!

Some of the attitudes on this thread are, quite frankly, astounding. To begrudge small children a free, hot meal in the middle of the day is totally unacceptable.

We all know that some children arrive at school without breakfast inside them and that their health and well being suffers if they do not eat well. These meals are a safety net for these children and if people who live in such a wealthy society as ours feel that this safety net should be removed that is appalling.

wellthisishit

We all know that some children arrive at school without breakfast inside them and that their health and well being suffers if they do not eat well. These meals are a safety net for these children and if people who live in such a wealthy society as ours feel that this safety net should be removed that is appalling

And this is exactly where the money should he going instead. As I said before it is unacceptable that anyone living in this country is in position to be unable to afford basics such as food. This safety net would not be needed should investment have been made in other things or peope/companies paying proper taxes. But no, now apparently the best they can do is poor quality food, a menu aimed at dieting adults as opposed to children, and people are supposed to be grateful for receiving it at all. Well no. Feeding hundreds of kids who don't need it in the hope it covers everyone who does even though they are fucked come year three is not the answer really.

Wellthisisshit....if you are on benefits, your child will continue to get free lunches.

I have my own thoughts - a big part of pupil premium is FSM, but if parents are already getting those then maybe they won't bother applying for PP which saves the govt money longer term.

Cynical, I know.

I take your point Giles

Mumzypopz, it was in answer to your question about why the school would be preparing more meals if they were free. You said if they they would be preparing the same number of meals but that parents would be paying for them instead of the taxpayer. Of course uptake increases if they are free and this is what we have seen.

To the PP who asked about the cost of ingredients, it's as little as 70p out of the £2.00 or more that we pay that goes on ingredients. Lots of carrots, potatoes, wheatflour rather than more exotic veg or grains. And have you noticed that lamb is never on the menu ( because it's expensive)? Shepherds pie is always cottage pie ( with beef). But it's all balanced nutritionally. You could do a more varied and interesting ( to us) menu but you'd end up pricing people out, and you wouldn't want a 2 tier pricing system.

Can I ask if people are saying paying for school meals or a packed lunch is too much of a stretch during term time then how on earth do they manage feeding their children on weekends and during holidays?

Some don't impossible dreams. There are many charities/schemes around the country that feed kids in the school holidays.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-39697216

The price of a school meal is now £2.00 in Primary Schools and £2.05 in Secondary Schools for a 2 course meal, main course and sweet. Of this amount 72p is spent on ingredients. The balance pays for all the other costs involved with the production of the meal eg labour, cleaning materials etc.
From the Norse school catering website.

72p on ingredients. We spend £2.20 on school dinners, not the £2 it states above as it is down to individual schools.

To the PP asking about feeding your kids during holidays, I can make lunch for myself and kids for a lot less than £2.20 per head.

I think parents should be allowed to opt out of a free school meal for their child , if they can afford to pay.

the universal breakfast is not viable at the suggested level of funding. Staffing it would be the costliest element, not the food purchase

^This. How is every child supposed to get a free breakfast when not every school provides breakfast club, some schools have a huge waiting for breakfast club and it means funding staff, facilities and food outsides of school hours.

At least with lunch every child is already there so their meal is guaranteed.

WellThisIsShitWon't you still be entitled to help and free school meals? Have you looked into it? Xx

Fuck me both me and DH pay our taxes! DH quite a fucking lot actually.

I do not object to a small child getting a free school meal. Working poor is massive in our area. And fsm and pp is high too. I guess in a way we are classed as working poor now. Jobs losses, rising bills, stagnant wages, we have a few little luxuries but spending £17 a week on school meals for 2 dc will cripple us - but we are and can just about manage to give the kids a healthy lunchbox.

I can seriously think of bigger issues than a few kids getting a hot dinner at lunch time. You know how about that mp pay rise? What a fucking waste of money.

Some people really are twats.

impossibledreams that is a very good point. Perhaps the ceiling on free school dinners should be lifted, but offering to everyone is unnecessary. I have never used the catering company our school uses. I would feel guilty using a service that I can easily pay for, unfortunately other people in the same boat just take the freebies on offer. Regarding MP expenses I would wholeheartedly agree it is absurd for them to spout austerity then abuse their expense claims, but this is a separate issue.

Heatseaker, maybe you should be glad you don't live in Finland. Or Sweden. Or Estonia. In those countries, school meals are free for ALL pupils, regardless of income and from nursery age right through to leaving secondary school. Rather than thinking of it as paying for other people's children as you are, most adults think of it as paying back what they themselves benefited from as children. Obviously, it has to start somewhere so there has to be a generation who didn't benefit from it who end up paying for the next generation. But then my generation benefited from fee university education so sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. I believe it was originally in Nick Clegg's manifesto and came about because of the lib dem / conservative coalition and was intended to be extended to cover all primary school pupils. I think it was a great idea and a shame it's going to be axed.

Incidentally, last year Finland was rated as having the best education system in the world. Along with being in the top 5 places to grow up as a child / child happiness, and also highly rated for adults' satisfaction with life. They pay high taxes but have a far more equal system than the UK.

www.independent.co.uk/news/education/11-best-school-systems-in-the-world-a7425391.html

I don't know what me and DS would be entitled to, as I've not claimed income related benefits before. I'm trying not to become homeless right now, as disability related benefits have been hit so hard, it's now very difficult for an actual ill person to navigate the system. I funded a significant chunk of my care myself as well, and lots of disability expenses, so I'm kind of screwed. All systems are creaking and under pressure, so health, social care etc are all a nightmare to get through when you don't have the capacity to push your way through all the road blocks and 'computer says no' attitudes. People assume that whatever they are focused on is the only pressure or only claim on that bit of money, so how can I deal with people who've decided that I must cough up money each week from the same money that I'm also supposed to get to hospital appointments, pay for disability equipment, not to mention pay rent and buy food for me and DS.

I probably shouldn't get on threads where posters think that social services should be brought in to force people to pay for something that they can't afford and that may well tip them into complete family and personal break down. It's hard not to take this cruelty personally.

Some pretty disgusting selfish comments on here! Pretty surprised some people need to look outside their own box. Breakfast clubs will hit the poorest most it is not an alternative

Yeah All those parents using breakfast club for childcare will get it free when they currently pay. And the families who need it will struggle to get there kids to school to benefit.
Crap policy. But op had no need to start the thread,about free school meals as are as they are going.
Sorry for your situation well this is

Wellthisisshit you should use the website entitled to. From what you are saying your DC would be entitled to fsm and you are entitled to help. The system is there to help people like you. I hope you get the help you need.

In relation to the topic I have no objection to paying for school dinners and will be shortly. As for packed lunches, these are not an option at my DD's school due to a long list of allergies so effectively they are banned. Other parents and I also provide the school with money to buy snacks for the school.

I know funds are limited but have to question why we are in a world of take from those least able to defend or respond for themselves, have we really become so selfish that we no longer care for others?