To ask if free school meals should be abolished?

[SphJC]

As above^

I have my own opinion on this but keen to hear others before I share my own.

No.

I'd like the school meals service invested in and made better.

Zig4Zag has it ever occurred to you that people's situations change? That not all low income families started out this way? That women fleeing domestic violence or who have left an abusive partner often end up on low income because the father of their children refuses or fudges to avoid paying maintenance.
God help you if you ever find yourself in need.

@RaindropsSplashRainbows I totally agree. I think the free school meal service should apply to all children regardless of their parents/guardians income.

@Mxflamingnoravera

Zig4Zag has it ever occurred to you that people's situations change? That not all low income families started out this way? That women fleeing domestic violence or who have left an abusive partner often end up on low income because the father of their children refuses or fudges to avoid paying maintenance. God help you if you ever find yourself in need.

Well said! I think @Zig4zag is the real troll here.

No why would they be? Makes no sense

I do apologise I was unaware that when you asked for an opinion you meant just the one you want to hear.

I don't believe in a nanny state for adults but for children I'm all in!

No. I think schools should have proper real meals for all students.

I think it would be great if more workplaces did as well.

Everyone needs to eat.

There aren't so many foster families available, you are obviously on a wind up Zig.

Do you have children Zig4zag? Would you be happy for them to be fostered out if you lost your job?

@Zig4zag

I do apologise I was unaware that when you asked for an opinion you meant just the one you want to hear.

I think it's because your opinion is vile, not because it's not the one the OP wants to hear

Oh yes. Children would much prefer being torn out of loving homes and dumped with strangers because their parents have been made redundant.

Where are all these Foster carers coming from and how much will they have to be paid per child vs the cost of free school meals?

You know the outcomes for children who spend time in Foster care is really grim? Far too many of those children find themselves in the prison system, addicts and other various sad outcomes. Why on earth should children in otherwise good families be put in that situation? Especially as the cost of FSM in comparison is marginal to cost to public of foster care etc.

People's situations change. When I had babies I didn't expect to end of a single parent with two autistic children. We had a combined income of around 55k when we had our babies.

Yes but I don't think kids should go hungry.

They should be replaced with every primary school child being able to be offered a fsm with the option of sandwiches from home for those that the school meals can't cater for (for whatever reason, whether sensory issues, severe allergies or just plain fussiness or even parents wanting to cook for their children).

Secondary is harder because they tend to have more choice but I think fsm should still stay for secondary age.

Why are people so stupid?

My friend has free school meal for her 3 kids. 2 are in my kids classes. Her weekly food budget is 4 times what mine is yet I have to pay. They get free school trips too.

What if people could afford children then their circumstances change? Let the children starve? Reopen the workhouses? Idiot.

I thought zig4zag was being facetious with her first comment and then realised she was serious with her subsequent ones! WTF

I’m sure it wouldn’t be at all harmful to a child to remove them from a loving home and put them in foster care, just because there parents are skint.

And that option wouldn’t be more expensive for the state than giving them a free school lunch

I'd like to see investment in trying to improve situations re education and employment and all things that contribute to families having to rely on free meals. I'd like to see investment in school facilities and suppliers to ensure meals of high nutrition and quality and quantity.

I think its disgusting that such a developed country has people who can't afford to feed their children and that they have to be grateful for sone of the utter crap served.

Ultimately we should invest in our children. They deserve better

@bp300

Yes they should definitely be abolished. If you can't afford children don't have them.

How does that work?

"Sorry kid, no food for you today. Your parents shouldn't have had you".