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AIBU?

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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:
VinylDetective · 17/01/2021 12:13

we all know Government policies have to be thought out, budgeted and be workable. Policies can not be based on knee-jerk reactions and caring

Normally yes. Since March every policy has, of necessity, been knee jerk and most of them have involved hand brake turns. When we have a semblance of normality again, you’ll be right. But that isn’t now.

Katyppp · 17/01/2021 12:21

And to add, i don't think implying most free school meals families are without heating, cooking facilities and/or utensils does the argument any favours either.
I know a few on this thread work with families in these circumstances and i know it does happen.
But, for the vast majority of people, they will know FSM families as being perfectly ordinary families with low incomes but quite capable of puttng a meal on the table.
I think as soon as you start implying otherwise, you lose people as it is not their experience at all.
Neither do i think it's helpful to describe having a kitchen as a privilege. Again, most people have kitchens and do not want to be told how lucky they are, so tune out.
And lastly, one more point.
I don't think it's particularly helpful to deify a footballer with dubious (but legal) tax arrangements because he is the loudest shouter on your pet subject. If it came to light that an MP had the same arrangements they would be ripped to shreds. That's double standards, and it's not a good look.

Katyppp · 17/01/2021 12:23

@VinylDetective

we all know Government policies have to be thought out, budgeted and be workable. Policies can not be based on knee-jerk reactions and caring

Normally yes. Since March every policy has, of necessity, been knee jerk and most of them have involved hand brake turns. When we have a semblance of normality again, you’ll be right. But that isn’t now.

That's a very fair point
VinylDetective · 17/01/2021 12:25

If it came to light that an MP had the same arrangements they would be ripped to shreds. That's double standards, and it's not a good look

Of course they would because MPs are publicly accountable and paid by the taxpayer. Rashford isn’t. That’s not double standards it’s false equivalence.

Katyppp · 17/01/2021 12:27

Well not really vinyl, as you were saying he should be an MP yesterday.
Anyway, you're OK with Rashford's tax arrangement, i take it?

VinylDetective · 17/01/2021 12:36

@Katyppp

Well not really vinyl, as you were saying he should be an MP yesterday. Anyway, you're OK with Rashford's tax arrangement, i take it?
Yes, I do think he’d be a brilliant MP and he’d have to make different tax arrangements if he was. No, I’m not happy but, as you say, it’s legal. If we don’t want people taking advantage of legal loopholes we need to remove them. But then apparently everyone who uses them would leave the country. 🤷‍♀️
Mittens030869 · 17/01/2021 12:48

** HOS8595
@Wheresmykimchi

I’m also allowed my own opinion... parents should be providing their kids a lunch in school holidays. Don’t have kids if you can’t afford them.**

Why do so many posters make this wholly unhelpful type of comment? What do you expect these parents to do? Get in a time machine?

The children are already here and need to be fed, for their sakes, regardless of what you think of their parents’ past choices.

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 17/01/2021 13:11

I understand parents end up in predicaments sometimes but if you can afford to feed your child ever there is something seriously amiss

Definitely.

fedupathome · 17/01/2021 13:22

@PodgeBod surely if you prefer to choose your own food for your child then you should work for it .
If people are in genuine need they would not turn their nose up at these hampers the school has put together.

Wheresmykimchi · 17/01/2021 13:24

@Katyppp

I am going to try to explain my thoughts on this without incurring anyone's wrath. Clearly this is a very contentious issue and people do feel passionately about it. That is clear. I have not seen anyone say "Just get a job' or 'just feed your children' on either of the threads i hae been on. I may have missed it though. I thunk whichever side of the argument you are on, most people are more enlightened than thinking things are that simple. I certainly am. But time and time again, posters questioning why - not if - children are not being fed are met with statements like the ones above, the underlying tone usually being 'I care, you don't' As i said upthread, we all know Government policies have to be thought out, budgeted and be workable. Policies can not be based on knee-jerk reactions and caring. I think the loud shouters on these threads would do well to pay more attention to sone of the arguments on the other side, because thay are what has to be overcome before a sensible debate can be had.
If you have not seen anyone saying comments to the effect , or indeed don't breed em if you can't feed em you have very selective reading Katy.

I do pay attention to the other side. I just don't agree.

VinylDetective · 17/01/2021 13:29

[quote fedupathome]@PodgeBod surely if you prefer to choose your own food for your child then you should work for it .
If people are in genuine need they would not turn their nose up at these hampers the school has put together.[/quote]
Have you seen them? If not, have a look. A quick google search of images should do it. If even the PM says they’re a disgrace, I think we can safely say they’re inadequate. You do realise that many parents of FSM kids do work? Or did until the pandemic ripped their jobs away?

But no, people on benefits should be grateful for whatever substandard shit they’re given, even though it’s ripping off the taxpayer. Nobody wins here except hard faced suppliers.

PodgeBod · 17/01/2021 13:37

[quote fedupathome]@PodgeBod surely if you prefer to choose your own food for your child then you should work for it .
If people are in genuine need they would not turn their nose up at these hampers the school has put together.[/quote]
I'm not going to explain my circumstances to you or justify my current need to claim benefits. Irrelevant anyway as my childrens school has given vouchers throughout

Bookworming · 17/01/2021 14:11

@fedupathome yeah of course the peasants should just be glad of any scraps they get! Why should they be treated fairly? So let the big fat cats give poor value boxes and make loads of money from profiteering !

People like you are shameful.

Katyppp · 17/01/2021 14:17

Bookworm, comments such as yours are honestly as much use as people saying 'just feed your kids'.
Just engage instead of shouting.

Bookworming · 17/01/2021 14:19

What's wrong with my comment @Katyppp ? I think it's shameful what the PP said! I'm not shouting I'm giving my viewpoint. I don't know why you'd think I can't do that?

Katyppp · 17/01/2021 14:23

Kimchi, actually i know that you do read opposing views to yours and you do engage with them.
Not agreeing is ok too 😁😁😁😁😁😁
I havw certainly seen comments about not having kids unless you can afford them, but i don't think anyone has said 'Just get a job' or 'Just feed them', have they?

Bookworming · 17/01/2021 14:28

Are you the self appointed board 👮‍♀️? @Katyppp

Katyppp · 17/01/2021 14:34

Vinyl, yes some of the boxes were rubbish, but let's be honest, a lot of folk didn't want boxes, they wanted a voucher to subsidise their grocery bill.
So it doesn't matter how good the boxes were (they weren't), they would always be criticised because they weren't what people wanted. Hence anecdotal evidence of low take-up.
In terms of value, there seems to be a lot of confusion about what they cost, what they should be worth, how long they were supposed to last etc and i'm not sure that has ever been confirmed? Not sure we can point fingers at hard faced suppliers, fat cats and/or Tory cronies until we are in possession of the facts really. Not that it's stopped anyone with an axe to grind. Never let te facts get in the way of a good story.
And for what it's worth, yes, i do think people shoukd be grateful when they are given something for nothing. I can't understabd why they shouldn't be.

Bookworming · 17/01/2021 14:37

And for what it's worth, yes, i do think people shoukd be grateful when they are given something for nothing. I can't understabd why they shouldn't be.

But some of these parents are working, so "paying" for them.

I'm working and paying for them and not happy with my money being creamed off by profiteering! And yes I'll shout about that.

I have zero problem with feeding hungry children or giving their parents the ability to choose food their child enjoys.

Wheresmykimchi · 17/01/2021 14:49

@Katyppp

Kimchi, actually i know that you do read opposing views to yours and you do engage with them. Not agreeing is ok too 😁😁😁😁😁😁 I havw certainly seen comments about not having kids unless you can afford them, but i don't think anyone has said 'Just get a job' or 'Just feed them', have they?
Yes. Many times. Many.
Sinful8 · 17/01/2021 14:53

"Does this government just really hate feeding hungry kids?"

Not as much as their parents seem to....

Wheresmykimchi · 17/01/2021 15:10

@Sinful8

"Does this government just really hate feeding hungry kids?"

Not as much as their parents seem to....

Out of order Sinful.
Wheresmykimchi · 17/01/2021 15:12

@Katyppp

Vinyl, yes some of the boxes were rubbish, but let's be honest, a lot of folk didn't want boxes, they wanted a voucher to subsidise their grocery bill. So it doesn't matter how good the boxes were (they weren't), they would always be criticised because they weren't what people wanted. Hence anecdotal evidence of low take-up. In terms of value, there seems to be a lot of confusion about what they cost, what they should be worth, how long they were supposed to last etc and i'm not sure that has ever been confirmed? Not sure we can point fingers at hard faced suppliers, fat cats and/or Tory cronies until we are in possession of the facts really. Not that it's stopped anyone with an axe to grind. Never let te facts get in the way of a good story. And for what it's worth, yes, i do think people shoukd be grateful when they are given something for nothing. I can't understabd why they shouldn't be.
But they still have pride, katy, and dignity. I hab no issues with vouchers .

But fwiw I'm seeing your points far more now we've reached a common way of speaking.

Bookworming · 17/01/2021 15:24

What a nasty comment @Sinful8

VinylDetective · 17/01/2021 16:09

yes, i do think people shoukd be grateful when they are given something for nothing. I can't understabd why they shouldn't be

Would you be grateful for this? Seriously?

images.app.goo.gl/D8GK9cJLsaEx846m7