No free school meals during Feb half term

[noblegiraffe]

The new guidance on free school meals says that schools should not provide food or vouchers during Feb half term.

This won’t be needed as some general funding is going to LAs and they will be expected to provide food/support for the week schools are off.

This is bonkers, right? They’ve only just sorted it so that kids get more than a manky banana, cheese and dry bread for lunch and they’re going to switch to a different system for a week?

Does this government just really hate feeding hungry kids?

YANBU: sticking with one system for feeding disadvantaged kids would be best

YABU: it’ll be fine, no one will fall through the cracks and the transition will be seamless.

Yes, feed all children who need to be fed.

However, I do think there should be better long term planning for spending this money. Long term is should be used to educate and support. Use the money to feed kids, but through cooking clubs and support to learn to cook, either the child themselves (age dependent) or with a parent.

Accountability, responsibility, pride, learning about healthy foods and easy meals. A step further, allotments to grow your own. Break the cycle, teaching ready for the next generation. So many more benefits than a handing out a voucher.

20:19VinylDetective

Acknowledging poverty is not judgement

Like I said to the other ignorant I personally don't represent the faith

I am allowed to have my own views and question people's rationale

Can't do anything for anyone else out of your won pocket but happy to slag off those who will, just because they wonder about the alien way they live

Yes, not being able to feed your kids is an alien concept doesn't mean it's used as a point of ridicule

@PrankedByLife

16:08dayinthelifeofworkingpoor

If it's a choice between you are your kids then it's better it's you that is malnourished.

Please go to your local Sikh temple they will feed you a decent, nutritious meal, you don't have to believe in God.
If some places on Fridays or Saturdays they even make 'english' food.
It's not the crap you get at Indian takeaways but decent vegetarian food.

What city / town are you in?

Can you see why someone may not be prepared to do so based on your behaviour in this thread?

You’ve been aggressive and judgmental. You’ve asked why parents don’t go hungry themselves - as though this is something to aspire to - and when told that they do (apparently despite your service to the poor you were unaware of this) you suggest that those parents present to a community service for emergency support as though that is an answer to the longer term problem. A single meal (with a hefty side serving of judgment, if you are involved in distributing it), is not the answer.

You must see that compassion and care are not shining in your posts, and so many would be hesitant to take up your offer to approach a community service you support.

20:44ghostvillage

What have I said that's so awful?
That some of these people can walk to a supermarket?!!

You're not even godly what would you know about being a Sikh.

@Greeneyedminx - the problem I find is if I don't pay my bills they threaten to cut us off, don't pay tv licence - can get taken to court and if I don't pay my mortgage they threaten to take the house, if I don't pay my debt repayments same thing so ultimately those things have to take priority.

@PrankedByLife

20:44ghostvillage

What have I said that's so awful?
That some of these people can walk to a supermarket?!!

You're not even godly what would you know about being a Sikh.

I refer you to the excellent post by @trixiebelden77 above who has explained it all perfectly.

If being godly is to be like you then I am more than happy to be an atheist. I have come across some lovely Sikh's in my time but you are not showing this thread that you are one of them.

Probs because the key is in the name of school Meals They wouldn’t normally get them in half term

20:51ghostvillage

Yes even an ignorant like Cedartree won't be questioned

@PrankedByLife

20:51ghostvillage

Yes even an ignorant like Cedartree won't be questioned

Jesus wept.

@Macaroni46

Loads of unclaimed FSM packages at my school. We gave them away to a food bank in the end. Such a waste.

Why weren’t they made to order? This is another example of terrible planning resulting in waste.

I see two main issues. FSM currently have no end date, so families in improved circumstances are taking resources from those who really need support.

In my school, 80 children are eligible for FSM, only 22 collected food boxes, which were of a very good quality provided by the catering company.

Having just offered vouchers as advised by the government, there is a 100% take up. Go figure.

20:58trixiebelden77

If there is a choice between feeding your kids or yourself - then feed your kids - obviously the worst situation in the world.

People in this situation should take all the help that is out there.

Of course it's not a solution

Your government doesn't care about you, isn't that obvious?!! So take the help that is out there. These issues will never change, were in a capitalist society.

I'm not judging, I don't just don't understand, because quite frankly I don't know people like this on a personal level.

When you help the poor, it's usually the homeless, or debt ridden students, or people that are alone.
What I was questioning why can't people walk to a supermarket? If you can't even do that if you are able bodied then you don't care for your kids.

@Cherrysoup - I used to be a bit judgemental about smoking. But I've been in the mental health service and cigarettes are a part of the day for the majority of patients - many start smoking when they hadn't before. Then they get addicted and when you have poor mental health, are struggling for money as well as all the extra stress from Covid it is not so easy to give up. Not to mention the lack of giving up smoking support. There are always lots of people smoking at my local food bank and a majority have poor mental health - I don't judge them.

@june2007 - and judging them at the same time - no thanks. Would rather go to a food bank and not be judged.

20:52thegreedycateropillar

More fool you

Maybe that's an excuse as your prejudice ?

Don't forget that a lot of poorer families have to use prepayment meters for their gas & electric, usually this means that they have got behind with their payments & often have to repay this money through benefits as well as paying higher tariffs than normal meters. It's no wonder that they have a lot less money for food.

21:14UndertheCedartree

There's a difference between judging and pitying

It's good that YOUR community offers so much that you don't need the help of another community

@Puzzledandpissedoff - not the case here. Our food bank is inundated in the holidays.

@PrankedByLife I'll just leave this here for you
:

A good life is lived as part of a community, by living honestly and caring for others.

as I think you have forgotten this one of the rules.

21:22thegreedycateropillar

No I haven't forgotten

Not one of my posts puts these people down
I asked 2 simple questions about walking to the supermarket and feeding your kids over yourself

And what exactly do you do?
Do you give away a percentage of your wages?
Do you stand in the cold serving food?

It's easy for you to out me down on this forum - typing a few words isn't doing much!

I may not understand these people's day to day lives doesn't mean I don't care - if I didn't care I wouldn't waste my money or time. You don't have to experience poverty to be thankful you're not in that situation.

@AttackOfTheFloppyKnob

Feeding children who aren't being fed at all at home is just papering over the cracks. Instead of feeding them why on earth arent these children being removed from those environments and cared for properly. ?

This it’s a serious matter. If your child only has one school meal a day (which is really small portion wise!) social services need to be involved ASAP.