Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No free school meals during Feb half term

771 replies

noblegiraffe · 14/01/2021 13:27

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.

No free school meals during Feb half term
OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 14/01/2021 21:37

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

So was ours, Cedartree, but it was the lunch club I was referring to Smile

PrankedByLife · 14/01/2021 21:40

21:37VinylDetective

You're the nasty price of work calling names - they probably just humour you

thegreedycateropillar · 14/01/2021 21:41

@PrankedByLife

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.

I work on minimum wage as a carer for people with extremely severe special needs. I don't need to do a minimum wage job as I am qualified way above what qualification is needed but it's what I choose to do.
PrankedByLife · 14/01/2021 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HOS8595 · 14/01/2021 21:46

People should be feeding their own kids in school holidays.

Is the government meant to forever pay for everyone’s kids to have meals in school holidays now as wellConfused

Chel098 · 14/01/2021 21:55

@Crystalclair

I know there are many genuine cases of families not being able to feed their kids. But, let's face it, there are a huge majority of family who are abusing this system.

I'm a single parent, I'm unable to work because of the pandemic and am not entitled to furlough or SEISS grant. Currently I survive on very little and have no savings. Yet I can still afford to feed my children. So many people I've heard complaining about their kids going hungry are usually the ones taking photos of their kids around the Christmas tree with a shit load of presents, or using Uber eats as their kids 'need a McDonalds'

Pisses me off.

I’m glad someone raised this point. It makes you wonder doesn’t it how some people manage and some of us don’t?!
Chel098 · 14/01/2021 22:03

@booboomoo

I honestly don't know how anyone could have it in their heart to deprive a child of a lunch, or deprive a parent the ability to give their child a healthy nutritional lunch. I am in a very fortunate position, between me and DH we earn a big salary and never have to worry about food. However, it hasn't always been this way. DH was always hungry as a child, never had enough food, chronically neglected and full of headlice, always cold etc. My upbringing whilst not as bad as that was normal, sometimes we had things, sometimes we didn't. When me and DH first got together we were very young, we struggled at times. I remember counting my last pennies for baby milk, I wasn't a bad mum or incompetent but just struggling due to circumstances at the time. I cannot think of many things worse as a parent to be worrying if you have enough food for your child or to have to go hungry yourself so your children can have food. The thought of having to go to the school and collect a parcel of food makes me want to cry. Of course I would do it rather than my children going hungry but it must be so demoralising. Things have been so hard this year for so many people. I can think of many things the government have wasted money on but this is not one of them. Just give parents on FSM food vouchers for their children throughout the year, including holidays. The vast majority will spend them on their children and it will have benefits including better overall health. How anyone can get annoyed about this I don't understand. Have some heart.
I’m sorry but I had to comment on this. You don’t understand. I travelled to a 3rd world Country and I saw real poverty and it was heart wrenching I wanted to take the kids home with me.

The fact your suggesting to make this voucher thing a permanent thing is outrageous... you are aware that low owners sometimes don’t have much left after outgoings? Nobody will want to go to work on a low income if that’s the case.

Responsibility for your own child has been mentioned and I strongly agree. Where does it end? I don’t grudge anybody some support in life but FFS come on.

Didyousaynutella · 14/01/2021 22:05

Let’s face it. It is’nt the kids who’s parents are struggling financially because they had a tough year/lost their jobs. They will do everything they can to put food on the table.

It’s the kids who come from chaotic unsupportive homes, who don’t put their kids first. Those are the kids who won’t get fed properly, covid or not, maybe we need to look at kids aren’t protected from unfit parents more.

WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo · 14/01/2021 22:06

I’m glad someone raised this point. It makes you wonder doesn’t it how some people manage and some of us don’t?!

Various living costs. Help from relatives. High CSA vs no CSA. Credit cards. Loans. And some people will moan they are skint (when they aren't really) for the "awww hun. That's so hard. You're amazing to manage how you do" type reaction.

Chel098 · 14/01/2021 22:17

@WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo or perhaps money management? On these threads I rarely see this point raised.... yet there will be a few us on similar income but with very different outgoings.

Those reasons are real possibilities however the sole responsibility of a child is the parents.

PodgeBod · 14/01/2021 22:17

@WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo

I’m glad someone raised this point. It makes you wonder doesn’t it how some people manage and some of us don’t?!

Various living costs. Help from relatives. High CSA vs no CSA. Credit cards. Loans. And some people will moan they are skint (when they aren't really) for the "awww hun. That's so hard. You're amazing to manage how you do" type reaction.

I find rent is the big one. I'm on benefits at the moment in a private rent, the people I know in council houses/HA are much better off. And post on social media how confused they are that other people can't manage as well.

(love the screen name by the way)

Wheresmykimchi · 14/01/2021 22:24

@Chel098 what on earth are you talking about?

WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo · 14/01/2021 22:27

[quote Chel098]@WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo or perhaps money management? On these threads I rarely see this point raised.... yet there will be a few us on similar income but with very different outgoings.

Those reasons are real possibilities however the sole responsibility of a child is the parents.[/quote]
Well yes and money management for some. But its hard to manage money you don't have!

@PodgeBod exactly. (See my rant post earlier about it). And thanks. Nurse Crane is my hero! Grin

Wheresmykimchi · 14/01/2021 22:32

@HOS8595

People should be feeding their own kids in school holidays.

Is the government meant to forever pay for everyone’s kids to have meals in school holidays now as wellConfused

Not everyone's. No.
Chel098 · 14/01/2021 22:33

[quote Wheresmykimchi]@Chel098 what on earth are you talking about?[/quote]
Do you not know or would you rather not hear the reality? Which part did you not grasp that we all need some assistance in life but expecting free school meal vouchers all year round on a permanent basis is a disgrace. There’s lots of low earners just managing or did it suit you to bypass those posts?

Cherrysoup · 14/01/2021 22:35

@AldiAisleofCrap you’re right and I apologise.

HOS8595 · 14/01/2021 22:38

@Wheresmykimchi

People should be feeding their own kids full stop.

It’s one bloody week. If you can’t provide your kids with lunch for 5 extra days a week then you’re not fit enough to be a parent. Not expect hand outs.

Cherrysoup · 14/01/2021 22:38

@UndertheCedartree

I was quoting someone else, not judging. As an ex-smoker, I totally get that urgency to have a cigarette and the first hit in the lungs. Can you tell I sometimes miss it? I don’t know if I would choose that over food for my dc. I’m grateful I don’t have to make the choice.

AldiAisleofCrap · 14/01/2021 22:43

@Cherrysoup you’re right and I apologise now I feel awful for my snotty response to your post. Am sorry.

Cherrysoup · 14/01/2021 22:43

@HOS8595

Do you have dc? Can you imagine not having that money in your pocket/account? Can you imagine losing your job and having to decide if you’re going to top up the gas or buy food? Ever had to make that choice for another person? I think you’re incredibly brutal.

Call me crazy, but I don’t see people wanting to put their dc in that position, although as a pastoral leader, I’ve seen it, but usually when an addiction is also in play. Hope you’re never in that very shitty position.

Cherrysoup · 14/01/2021 22:45

@AldiAisleofCrap I was tempted to be arsey back, but this is a very very emotive topic and it’s fine. (plus this is mumsnet and I thoroughly expect to have my arse handed to me on a plate for not being absolutely precise)

HOS8595 · 14/01/2021 22:47

[quote Cherrysoup]@HOS8595

Do you have dc? Can you imagine not having that money in your pocket/account? Can you imagine losing your job and having to decide if you’re going to top up the gas or buy food? Ever had to make that choice for another person? I think you’re incredibly brutal.

Call me crazy, but I don’t see people wanting to put their dc in that position, although as a pastoral leader, I’ve seen it, but usually when an addiction is also in play. Hope you’re never in that very shitty position.[/quote]
Yes I have DC... I actually feed them myself instead of expecting constant hand outs for.

WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo · 14/01/2021 22:51

@HOS8595 how would you feed them if you genuinely didn't have the money. If your bank account was close to 0?
I don't think many (if any) people are expecting constant handouts, but until wages are pulled in line with the cost of living, and more help is available to get the long term unemployed back into work, people need that extra help.

HOS8595 · 14/01/2021 22:54

[quote WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo]@HOS8595 how would you feed them if you genuinely didn't have the money. If your bank account was close to 0?
I don't think many (if any) people are expecting constant handouts, but until wages are pulled in line with the cost of living, and more help is available to get the long term unemployed back into work, people need that extra help.[/quote]
I’m not here to think up ways on how people should feed their kids or explain what I would do.

But if you have kids then you should be feeding them and not expecting the government to do it. They already provide meals in school.

A extra 5 meals for the week half term shouldn’t also be their problem. If you can’t adequately provide a meal for your child then you are not a fit parent.

WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo · 14/01/2021 22:57

Well I hope for your sake you're never in that position. There by the grace of God and all that.