To think that you just can’t leave kids without a meal?

[FrizzyMcFrizzface]

We have just been informed that the school dinner provider will no longer provide a lunch (primary school) if the account is not in credit. The school will contact the parents to bring in a pack lunch if that is the case.

I understand the provider is fed up of being in debt but surely you can’t leave a child without dinner for the day? If the parents can’t be contacted for whatever reason or are too far away at work/no relatives nearby etc.

There are always those days for all of us where with the best will in the world you forget or there is some sort of emergency/crisis. AIBU to think this is wrong and in those emergency/rare situations a meal should be provided?

Having your lunch ruined is a different scenario though isn't it. If it happens once presumably the child in question will be observed more closely. And I'm sure in the circumstances something would be cobbled together for the child.

You can't lump that in with piss takers who don't pay cos you know "school won't let them go without.."

It's not your child's responsibility, it's yours as their parent.

Why on earth should the caterers/school provide a lunch you haven't paid for?

Blue it would be £7.50 if you wanted three school dinners during the week. £2.50 per day. Snacks you bring from home if wanted.

I can't believe people are moaning about this, take responsibility as a parent. It's not rocket science to work out how many lunches each term, set up weekly/monthly bank transfers in advance...job done. I don't actually see why the school should shoulder the burden of warning parents to be fair, it is not their job to nanny the parents.

I imagine this letter is just round one of or a process that escalates but no child is left without food.

If this happens at our school, the child gets a sandwich and apple and glass of water. If a child is repeatedly left with no lunch by their parents, social services are involved.

I doubt many people love the idea of denying a child lunch. My guess is they can't afford to not be paid for their services.

Just pay for the lunch in advance or send in a sandwich. In the past 7 years i've successfully managed to send my childs pack lunch in with her every single school day. Its really not that hard.

On pay day I work out how much each of my 3 need for school dinners and then top up thier accounts sonthen it’s done.
They are in primary so it’s a set amount per day. May have to change my ways when DS1 goes up to secondary next year and it’s varying amounts each day.

I don’t agree with in

With punishing children (especially primary children) because of their feckless parents. I think any school that lets their catering providers profits before the welfare of their children is out of order.

Pay for the meals!! Totally the parent's responsibility. Not on the school.

I doubt they would leave a child hungry anyway

So what do you suggest gamer? I am sure schools and catering companies would love your suggestions!

I expect them to give them a lunch and chase the parents for the arrears and engage social services if necessary for persistent offenders.

You try taking your children into a restaurant and saying you haven't got any money but you can't leave a child without a meal . . .

A restaurant doesn’t have a duty of care towards your child though so that’s not the best analogy.

You see though, my Childresn's schools only use money, so you have to give them cash. and when you have 4 childsy ou need a lot of change!

But gamerwidow the extreme case would be that no parent pays and the school has to subsidize every pupil indefinitely - where are you going to draw the line?

Of course people forget occasionally, I have, and I don't expect the school to help me out but they have allowed me to pay the next day. I don't know if they would if I was a persistent offender.

I don't think the school IBU in the slightest, I imagine they've had enough of parents taking the piss.

Ok. The responses are more hard line than I expected. I just meant that everyone makes mistakes once in a while, there can be circumstances when you do forget to top up, particularly if you can’t pay for one term all in one go. I understand completely that it’s the parents’ responsibility to make sure they’ve paid but I do think it’s unfair not to allow one meal under these circumstances. I’m not saying the child gets this for free forever, the school could contact and then the parent pays at the end of the day. I think it’s unfair for the child to go hungry, regardless of circumstances.

Of course for repeat offenders there would be consequences/SS involvement etc but for the occasional incidence, I think it’s a bit harsh.

And I'm pretty sure there's no law about this, the school is under no obligation to feed my DC post KS1, maybe in other countries but not in England

What are the payment options exactly OP, is there scope for a reminder of being near the limit?

At ours a basic lunch will be provided, with payment required ASAP.

Generally though schools and other businesses send out the zero tolerance type letters when in general they will know who is taking the piss and who has genuinely forgotten for the first time. If it is a one off I very much doubt they would take that course of action but for repeat offenders it may be the only way for the parents to actually take responsibility

Ime the threat is enough. How many hungry children have you seen since the policy op? I bet it's none.