Free school meals

[Strawb1980]

Just had message from school: 'would you be interested in free breakfast and after school club in September'.
'Yes that would be great' I was about to text back.
Then another 'this is available if you're child is on free school meals'.
Also offering free summer activities for children on free school meals.
I work and I'm on a low income but still pay for my dc meals, breakfast and after school club would be a great help to me instead of relying on family to take/collect my dc whilst I'm working. Why do I feel that ppl working are often penalised for doing so?
AIBU to feel this way?

YABU. You may be on a low income, but obviously not that low, or you’d be entitled to FSM…

Many low income working families qualify for FSM, so making this about working/not working isn't relevant.

While I do think that more children from families on low incomes should should be getting free school meals and other help and you’re entitled to feel how you feel, I do think YABU to think that you are penalised for working. You’re not. These schemes are to help children out who are more vulnerable than yours, and believe me when I say it’s needed by those it’s aimed at.

YABU

your income can’t be that low or you’d be eligible for FSM. And it’s not like you’re paying for childcare if family are doing it for you!

The school would’ve been better to only text eligible families however

People who are working can get free school meals.

We need better provision for all children who experience disadvantage. The lack of funding is the fault of the government, not those with even less income than you.

YABU because that’s obviously not happening at every school, certainly not happening at my kids school

They may be trying to encourage more parents to claim fsm if they are entitled because it helps the school get more funding however a lot of parents don’t claim for the fsm even if they are entitled so the schools don’t get the extra funding for that child , this could be a push to encourage these parents .

Yabvu your income is too high for fsm so the children being offered this are from lower income families than yours. It id to help address their disadvantage.

Nope not entitled. I earn minimum wage.

Not complaining that I pay... but why shouldn't I be offered also? After all I am going to work... not sat at home all day

So sit at home and claim FSM OP? It’s clearly worth it to you.

@Strawb1980

Not complaining that I pay... but why shouldn't I be offered also? After all I am going to work... not sat at home all day

Because it’s not about you.

It’s offered to the children who’d benefit the most. FSM is one of the markers of children who are most likely to benefit from this sort of thing

YABU in your clear and obvious assumption that every child on FSM has parents who are “sat at home all day”.

@lastqueenofscotland
Yeh I do earn well under this no need for the swearing tbh
I struggle on what I earn and yes I'm lucky I don't pay for childcare but I still can't afford days out etc

I run a food bank. A lot of these initiatives are primarily to get food into kids that would be going hungry at home; the "holiday activity" angle is often just to try address the stigma around needing help with food.

@Strawb1980

Not complaining that I pay... but why shouldn't I be offered also? After all I am going to work... not sat at home all day

children on fsm normally have a lot of additional disadvantage. Sometimes it's because their sole parent is a carer for someone else meaning they have less time for the child, less opportunity to do things with them. Sometimes it's because the parent is disabled themselves meaning less chance to do things with the child. Sometimes it is because the parent/parents have absolutely no desire to work and just sit on their backsides meaning they also do nothing with their children - believe me with a parent working no matter how low the income your child already has a massive advantage

[quote Strawb1980]@lastqueenofscotland
Yeh I do earn well under this no need for the swearing tbh
I struggle on what I earn and yes I'm lucky I don't pay for childcare but I still can't afford days out etc[/quote]
So apply for FSM and maybe you’ll qualify! What about your partner? Do you have one? Do they earn?

For those on marginal incomes the unfairness extends right through to when your young person attempts to access university.

@UhtredRagnarson
Trying to set a good example to my dc by going to work even tho its hard at times. Hopefully they will realise you don't get everything for nothing when they're older

So if you earn under £16,000 you’ll qualify… so apply?

So if you earn under £16,000 you’ll qualify… so apply?

Not necessarily if the op claims working tax credits as opposed to universal credit she won't qualify

@streamside
This is very true also

If you were on a very low income you’d also qualify but obviously you aren’t. Most people on benefits do work and even those who don’t often have good reason (disabilities for example). You’re coming at this from the wrong angle really, it’s helping children more disadvantaged than yours actually eat and do something other than play on the street during the school holidays.

@UhtredRagnarson

People who are working can get free school meals.

Precisely

I work and I get FSM