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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

162 replies

FrizzyMcFrizzface · 20/10/2017 13:34

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?

OP posts:
Jamboree05 · 20/10/2017 16:05

Do you not think that the school may have already done this, op? Are you really that naive to think the school has never given out a meal to a child whose parents forgot then tried to recoup at the end of the day? Could this not be the reason this is happening in the first place.

Quite frankly, the child is the responsibility of the parent. If you forget to send your child in with a lunch, why is that the school's responsibility to sort and pay for? Do you ever forget to sort or buy your own lunch? I highly doubt it...

Abouttoblow · 20/10/2017 16:05

So OK as a parent to forget your child's lunch but unacceptable for a business to withdraw a service not paid for Hmm

Looneytune253 · 20/10/2017 16:07

To be fair I would imagine the child would get a meal if the school can’t get in touch with the parent.

brasty · 20/10/2017 16:09

Schools do chase for money if they give a child a meal that has not been paid for. But this will be sent out because not all parents will pay that debt. And why should SS be interested in chasing a debt? School budgets are very tight.
And no child will come to harm from missing one lunch.

Parker231 · 20/10/2017 16:09

It’s the responsibility of the parents to ensure their account is in credit or provide a packed lunch. Unless the child is receipt of free school meals, it is not the responsibility of the school or the school meals business to provide meals.

Oohhaveabanana · 20/10/2017 16:10

But it’s easy enough to put your account into credit to cover any emergency.
My school has just started a ‘bread and butter, piece of fruit only’ policy due to persistent non payers. We were owed hundreds and hundreds of pounds. Hours of office staff time was used up chasing debt. This money comes out of the school budget for books, equipment etc. Why should all the children suffer for a few piss takers? As someone else said, sadly it is rarely those suffering hardship that don’t pay. Parents need to start taking responsibility for their children and themselves. If you can’t afford school meals then make a packed lunch (it’s probably cheaper!)
The new rules have made a huge difference luckily.

BeyondThePage · 20/10/2017 16:10

you will probably find (I was a mid-day supervisor and we had the same rule) that

IF a parent has gone into arrears, they will be called.
They will be required to bring in lunch for their child,
that will be too inconvenient (work trumps child's hunger),
they will not have their bank card with them to top up the account,
they will swear blind that they will pay it ASAP,
they will not.

So the lunch staff will cobble together a plate of what's left - a bit of bread, some veg and gravy, a bit of custard for after.

They cannot magic up extra food. All meals have been supplied as requested in advance. If they are "lucky" someone will have gone home ill and the school forgot to ring through the new figure.

brasty · 20/10/2017 16:13

If schools did not allow packed lunches I would have more sympathy, as school dinner costs soon add up. But a cheese sandwich and an apple are very cheap to provide.
And I can totally see some taking the piss. The alternative school lunches for those with no money, sound like an ordinary packed lunch to me.

Papafran · 20/10/2017 16:14

Not RTFT but couldn't the parent just top up the account over the phone if the kid is stuck with no lunch for that day? Rather than have to come in with a packed lunch. If the parent was in dire financial straits, presumably the child would be on FSM anyway so I can't see how this rule would cause undue hardship to anyone. Yes, people forget to pay accounts but surely if you had a call saying your DC would get no lunch, you'd be able to stick a tenner on a credit card?

BeyondThePage · 20/10/2017 16:16

the parent will "not have their card with them" - I've made those calls. Sad

Gileswithachainsaw · 20/10/2017 16:16

gamer

Well when the business goes bust as they have to waste time and money taking parents to court and or chasing arrears just to receive a pound a week for the duration or whatever Who will provide the food for the kids then? Especially as they will be also providing for the kids on fsm.

I'm assuming those in hardship and struggling woukd have already spoken to the school and come up with a solution.

Why are you expecting a catering business to care more about the child eating than it's own parents Hmm

Bluelonerose · 20/10/2017 16:19

My dd forgot her lunch at secondary school once. She rang me and asked me to bring it but I couldn't i had a hospital appointment and was already there which was an hour round trip.
I rang reception explained the situation and the "lent" her £2.50 for the day and I paid it as soon as I got back.
If this was a daily thing she would be going hungry.
In that situation I think it would be acceptable however I don't think they should be allowed anything else until their account is in credit.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 20/10/2017 16:19

I write to all parents that are more than two day's of meals in debt telling them to get up to date by the end of the week. If they still haven't paid by the beginning of the following week I call them. If they still haven't paid the next day then they are told to pay by Friday or provide packed lunches from the following week. If no money is received and the child has no packed lunch the following Monday then the cook will some salad, some bread and a piece of fruit or some leftovers if there are any.

I can't imagine going into McDonalds and demanding a happy meal for my child without paying upfront!

purplecurtaindog · 20/10/2017 16:23

I feel bad at the idea of letting young kids like Reception to Year 2 going hungry as they are so young. I think they should be offered some kind of snack or SOMETHING. Any older and they'll manage Grin

Papafran · 20/10/2017 16:24

the parent will "not have their card with them"

In that case, I agree with the policy- they should be told their child will not eat and it is their fault. There is never a time that I do not have a credit or debit card on me (or one within easy reach). If people feel they are responsible enough to raise a child, they should be responsible enough not to go outside without their wallet or purse. Plus the card is not even needed for most online banking apps. What feckless freeloaders.

Oohhaveabanana · 20/10/2017 16:24

Reception to year 2 get Universal Infant Free School Meals, so will always be fed.

Gileswithachainsaw · 20/10/2017 16:24

And gamer

What will social services be able to do for a chikd who is fed and clothed fine at home however parents just don't give a shit about giving the kid money for lunch and take the piss

There's actual neglect to deal with you know. Chasing debts is not their job.

Papafran · 20/10/2017 16:26

I feel bad at the idea of letting young kids like Reception to Year 2 going hungry as they are so young

Don't they get FSM anyway?

Parker231 · 20/10/2017 16:28

Purplecurtaindog- who should pay for the ‘snack or something ‘?

BlueSapp · 20/10/2017 16:34

no Free School meals around here for anyone unless you are on a very low income.

TreeTopTen · 20/10/2017 16:41

If you were buying your child's lunch from the supermarket and forgot your debit card?

AlexsMum89 · 20/10/2017 16:45

It makes me very sad that this is a thing. The thought of my boy, being sad and in school with no food for the day would break my heart. I would be extremely grateful for help in an emergency situation of course, but if I had to I would do something. Even if I had to walk out of work and drive down to the school with cash/sandwiches and I would know it was entirely my fault.

When I was in school, I was sent in every day without food for a couple of years. Sometimes my friends would share some of their lunch with me, sometimes I would have a chocolate bar that I would nibble teeny bits from to make it last as long as possible. I just got on with it at the time, but looking back it was a very sad situation and I was extremely thin.

SavoyCabbage · 20/10/2017 16:46

My dc went to primary school in Australia. No school lunches, just packed lunch for everyone. If a child doesn’t have a lunch the teacher would say “ok, you can go straight out to play”.

PoppyPopcorn · 20/10/2017 16:48

If it were a one-off instance of someone genuinely forgetting to send money (and we're a school where children take money every day if they want a school lunch) then it is not a big deal and the mortified parent would send in the cash asap.

If a school has to go to the lengths of composing a letter to send out to all parents, it says a substantial number are taking the piss.

ElizabethShaw · 20/10/2017 16:54

If you forget to organise your child's lunch, and the school calls you in the morning to let you know, then it is your responsibility as a parent to bring them food or money.

If you won't do that, it is you depriving your child of food, not the school.