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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Free school meals

213 replies

Strawb1980 · 23/06/2021 11:11

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?

OP posts:

UhtredRagnarson · 23/06/2021 18:43

@Spied

I know families whose children are entitled to fsm's. They're often in McDonald's after school. Although my partner and I both work we have to explain sometimes that they can't join their pals as we just can't afford it. (Likewise the £100 trainers that seem to be standard issue among them)

Maybe granny paid for the shoes and Mcds. Children are allowed to have gifts from other people even if their parents are poor.

Pinkandpink · 23/06/2021 18:44

Many working families are on low incomes but just fall right on that deadline that they don’t receive anything. Meanwhile I know lots of parents who have no intention of working, not talking about disabled or sick. That manage to go on foreign holidays, get grants for school clothing, school meals. Other grants thrown at them. Even one for isolating. Even free nursery placements for those who don’t work. That’s one that I really can’t understand. Yes I know it’s supposed to help the child, but plenty can’t afford this who are working. The whole system is wrong

Longestfewdaysupcoming · 23/06/2021 18:45

@grandmashotdoodlebugs

The only FSM at my kids primary were all fraudulent

Single unmarried mums except working dad does actually live there just not on the council house paperwork.

I see it time and time again.

ducks first cover but it's true

Well I never claimed fraudulently.

How do you know so much about other people’s financial affairs?

inpixiehollow · 23/06/2021 18:45

yabu
Schools get paid funds for children on fsm and so can afford to provide this for them. Most schools get barely get enough money from their local authority for the basics let alone providing free breakfast/after school sessions for all children.
You're very presumptuous too! "The working are penalised" a lot of families are so poorly paid by their employers that they qualify for this help despite having a job. To me its more horrifying we have children living in this level of poverty in 2021 in the UK. This provision is needed.

Beannag · 23/06/2021 18:46

I don't think you're being wildly unreasonable, sometimes you are worse off overall by earning a tiny bit over the threshold, cut your hours so you are within it. Its the same as nursery funding for 2 year olds, absolutely see the benefit for all children to have the chance to attend and it shouldn't be taken away, but it should be extended to others as well.

Pinkandpink · 23/06/2021 18:47

I earn min wage snd my partner earns just over the threshold. So it’s annoying we get nothing except child benefit.

Sweettea1 · 23/06/2021 18:47

Those getting fsm are automatically classed as vulnerable regardless as to if they are or not so that's why it's for them.

Rooroobear · 23/06/2021 18:48

Because all parents of children who are entitled to fsm are “sat at home” all day!! I work and I’m entitled! So fuck off with your judgey post. Threads like this piss me off so much!

BanginChoons · 23/06/2021 19:01

*The only FSM at my kids primary were all fraudulent

Single unmarried mums except working dad does actually live there just not on the council house paperwork*

I see you, self entitled prick at the school gates oozing superiority at me when I pass.

Just so you know, I have provided for and raised these kids single handedly. I am proud of them and of myself and what I am achieving, 2 years access course, 3 years on an NHS degree on placement 40 hours a week and studying for many more. Yes I got free school meals, it was a big help and meant my children didn't go without while my income was low.

And when your self entitled self needs medical attention, we will treat you, whatever your income and without judgement.

Beannag · 23/06/2021 19:07

@BanginChoons

*The only FSM at my kids primary were all fraudulent

Single unmarried mums except working dad does actually live there just not on the council house paperwork*

I see you, self entitled prick at the school gates oozing superiority at me when I pass.

And when your self entitled self needs medical attention, we will treat you, whatever your income and without judgement.

Do you have a bloke living with you and contributing to the household that you haven't declared?

JustLyra · 23/06/2021 19:07

@Strawb1980

. I'm not judging ppl its the fact that places only available to children on fsc... I'll leave it there I think as ppl have totally picked up the wrong meaning of what point I was trying to make

You absolutely were judging people.

You’ve also completely ignored the point made by multiple people that these initiatives are not about childcare. That’s just a medium to deliver the benefits.

LolaSmiles · 23/06/2021 19:08

There's a lot of people on this thread who seem to think they know an awful lot about what other families are entitled to/shouldn't be entitled to.

A child can be eligible for Pupil Premium funding (and associated initiatives funded by Pupil Premium funds) for several reasons:
Currently eligible for free school meals
Has been eligible for free school meals within the last 6 years
Being a looked after child (child in care)
Formerly been a child in care

The impact of disadvantage is bigger than whether someone gets free lunches for a period of time. That's why pupil premium exists and it's why it is used to support a range of measures to improve outcomes for a particular group who typically have more barriers than other students of similar ability.

It's odd that so many people think they know the last 6 years of their child's classmates' parents' financial situations

Rooroobear People are showing their ignorance. Ignore them. For some people it's easier to kick down at people who have less than to consider pushing to reform the system so others get help. It is also likely that some on this thread will have voted for successive governments who've cut funding for education and children too.

JustLyra · 23/06/2021 19:09

The only FSM at my kids primary were all fraudulent

All of them?

Every single one?

And it’s known?

Yeah, because that wouldn’t have hit the DM...

I run the breakfast club and after school club and I’m the chair of the local uniform bank and yet I still don’t know half as much about the finances of the parents using our services as some on here apparently know about all the other parents at their child’s school

Original poster

Strawb1980 · 23/06/2021 19:11

@Rooroobear wow you are triggered absolutely no need I didn't come on here swearing and slagging ppl off. Ppl don't like to hear others opinions and I thought that was what this forum was all about... but as soon as they hear something they don't like they start with the abuse. The Truth is the majority at our school have never worked a day in their lives and have no intention of doing so as a pp said and Its not because they can't its because they won't. I've grew up with these ppl and known them for many years.

OP posts:

JustLyra · 23/06/2021 19:13

Breakfast clubs are not for the benefit of the parents.

Longestfewdaysupcoming · 23/06/2021 19:13

How do you know the reasons why they aren’t working? Must be some damn fine skills to be able to diagnose people with MH difficulties for example? Or are you a qualified medical professional?

You have no idea why people are entitled to benefits and it’s not about them being lazy. And not wanting to work.

It’s specifically to get their children out of that trap and level up the disadvantage those kids face.

BanginChoons · 23/06/2021 19:14

Do you have a bloke living with you and contributing to the household that you haven't declared?

Nope, but I have been on the receiving end of that assumption..

TotorosCatBus · 23/06/2021 19:16

Schools get Pupil Premium from the government for children on FSM.

They have to publish how they spent PP. In your school's case, they've decided to fund after school care for x number of kids but another school might fund something else iyswim. They can't just save the money that they haven't spent for next year or spend it on say the heating bill.

Original poster

Strawb1980 · 23/06/2021 19:17

@Longestfewdaysupcoming yes it is because they don't want to. One of them actually said "you must be mad going to work whilst the kids are little".
I had a breakdown last yr 6 months off struggling on ssp so yeh I do understand mental health thanks.

OP posts:

Longestfewdaysupcoming · 23/06/2021 19:19

You know that people don’t tell the truth to randoms at the school gate don’t you?

UhtredRagnarson · 23/06/2021 19:20

I had a breakdown last yr 6 months off struggling on ssp so yeh I do understand mental health thanks.

Wouldn’t you have been entitled to FSM then?

Original poster

Strawb1980 · 23/06/2021 19:22

@Longestfewdaysupcoming not really random like i said I've known these ppl a long time we actually went to this school together and now our children go. Why do you just assume that nothing is fact and everything is just guessed?

OP posts:

LadyOfLittleLeisure · 23/06/2021 19:23

[quote Strawb1980]@Rooroobear wow you are triggered absolutely no need I didn't come on here swearing and slagging ppl off. Ppl don't like to hear others opinions and I thought that was what this forum was all about... but as soon as they hear something they don't like they start with the abuse. The Truth is the majority at our school have never worked a day in their lives and have no intention of doing so as a pp said and Its not because they can't its because they won't. I've grew up with these ppl and known them for many years.[/quote]
Wow, you're really doubling down with this 😬

Longestfewdaysupcoming · 23/06/2021 19:24

I don’t know. Why do you? You have no idea of people’s personal circumstances and I think it’s kinder to assume that if they are so in need that this Tory government are helping them then they really really need the help.

But then again I’m just an ex FSM claiming fraudulent lazy so and so so what do I know.

Original poster

Strawb1980 · 23/06/2021 19:31

My original post wasn't slagging at ppl on fsm the fact is that these places offered in the first place are now for children on fsm FIRST. Like I've said in pp why should my dc lose a place that I PAY for when they only gonna use it cos its free and I need the place cos I'm starting work at 8.30

OP posts:

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