To think school shouldn't refuse my child lunch

[Rathercrossaboutthis]

DS (12) forgot his school lanyard today. He's a well behaved boy who rarely forgets things (although it causes him much anxiety to stay on top of things not least because he has HF ASD). He called me in a panic en route to school as at this school forgetting the lanyard is a behaviour point, if not a detention offence, but it was too late for me to do anything.

He just told me that he was refused entry into the canteen for not having his lanyard (even though you don't actually need the lanyard to purchase lunch as there's a "thumb print" system). The teacher concerned was apparently very unpleasant when he tried to explain and shouted 'No lanyard. No lunch". He actually usually has packed lunch and goes to a "quiet room" for this so tried to go there to ask one of the SEN staff for help but again he was blocked by this teacher. He was told he was only allowed to lessons but nowhere else.

Ok I know he broke a rule by forgetting his lanyard but surely they can't punish him by refusing him lunch??? For all this teacher knew he could've been diabetic or something.

WIBU to complain?

I'd ask for a word with that particular teacher. I'd want to know exactly what she was thinking.

Teacher sounds like a dick head jobsworth.

Hope your ds is ok

I'd Definatly complain. That's outrageous!

I think refusing any child lunch is a massive overreaction, and very unfair. To refuse a child with ASD lunch is even worse, less because of the food and more because of the routine of it all. I know my kids would be extremely distressed by that, routine is all in our house.

Wow, the teacher sounds like a dick. How dare she deny a child food?

Our seems excessive refusing lunch but more so refusing access to a resource he uses to cope with his asd.

I think I'd contact the school for clarification that pupils are banned from lunch if they forget their lanyard. Seems particularly harsh for a first offence.

My ds also has ASD. That sort of thing would increase in anxiety massively and also cause him to become agitated and possibly disruptive. Not eating would have made it worse!

I think refusing entry to lunch was maybe fair enough if she had them allowed him access to somewhere else to sort it. Sen department or office or his tutor or someone.

Refusing him food and refusing him access to solve the problem is just being difficult for the sake of a 'rule'

Secondary teacher here.

This is unreasonable. Ring the head of year or senco.

I'd want a word with both the teacher and the SENCO. The punishment for forgetting your lanyard is a behaviour point/detention not going hungry. And no teacher should be stopping him accessing him a room specifically set up to support children with his disability.

Complain. The teacher blocked his access to a disability adjustment. That's out of order.

I'm a teacher and think you should definitely complain. Children should not be denied lunch under any circumstances IMO. Either the teacher is on a power trip or the school policy is completely wrong.

I'd go straight to Welfare

Someone who would happily refuse a 12 year old food shouldn't really be working with children. Might seem a bit far but...

I'd be absolutely raging.

Could you explain the purpose of the lanyard. What is hanging off of it? ID?

This is all kinds of crazy. Please do speak to someone at the school!

What is it with some teachers who get off on bullying kids? If he's collapsed and taken ill due to no food would they be so keen to throw their weight around then?

Snack bars and drinks cartons for next time he forgets?

Ex-teacher here (and now school governor).
This is not acceptable. They are in loco parentis and the position needs to be that they feed kids and sort out any problems later.
Ring HOY or SENCO as others have suggested.

Does he have accommodations at the school because of his autism? Is it someone's job at the school to advocate for him and ensure his unique needs are met? If so, I would contact that person.

It doesn't matter if he has SEN, they aren't allowed to treat ANY child like that. As someone else has said, there might be any number of reasons why a child needs food for medical reasons and blocking access to it is absolutely not permissible. Feed first, argue later.

They are not allowed to block access to food via lanyards ....! End of.
And is the school really so ignorant of its pupil body that they have to scan them into something as innocuous as a dining room???? With second level security in the form of a biometric system? Prisoners are treated more sympathetically.

THis teacher blocked him from going to the quiet room?? . That's outrageous - I would be requesting a meeting with the Senco & HOY.

Ok. I just questioned him again before I complained. He said the teacher did mutter something about "year office" before telling him to "go away". He has no idea who this teacher is and she wouldn't know he had ASD. The lanyard has an ID badge on it, yes.