To ask if 15 mins is enough lunch time for kids?

[GottaGoCYa]

My DC is in year 4. Another mum mentioned to me before the holidays that the children only have 15 minutes to sit and eat their lunch, her son hardly ever finishes his and therefore she is switching to home dinners. I had no idea as it's not been mentioned! When I asked DC I was told that yes, they only have 15 minutes to eat and DC said it's not enough as eating fast makes their tummy hurt. I cant imagine many of the children manage to eat properly?

First day back today and I queried this with class teacher. I was told that's how long each year group has (year 3 onwards), and it cannot be changed due to the rota. Not to do with Covid she said. But she admitted she was shocked at the change and feels many children do struggle to eat so quickly. I asked about packed lunch and they also get the same amount of time. I work and therefore can't bring DC home but I'm surprised more parents haven't picked up on this? Many primary aged kids are really slow eaters, the ones I know are anyway. Should I speak to the headteacher?

My lunch break is half an hour to cover the other half an hour lunch time play time. I have occasionally returned or not left school for lunch, and 90% of the kids have finished in 20 minutes, and we actually started the children serving each other and cleaning up after each other at small tables to make them take longer to eat. All the kids who don't finish, IMHO are packed lunch eaters with WAY too much food. Hot dinner kids easily eat in 15 minutes if they are talking or messing about.

DC said it's 12.15 until 12.45pm altogether, so 15 minutes eating, 15 minutes in the playground, including toilet use (DC takes forever in the bathroom so I doubt he gets to play for very long).

@GottaGoCYa

DC said it's 12.15 until 12.45pm altogether, so 15 minutes eating, 15 minutes in the playground, including toilet use (DC takes forever in the bathroom so I doubt he gets to play for very long).

So their 30 minute lunch break hasn’t changed? How long are their other breaks?

Sounds awful OP.

30 minutes is really short! They don't get any down time. We used to have two 15 mins and an hour. And I'm only in my early 20s!

They had a full hour for lunch before, so DC took around half an hour to eat and then other half to play.

Only other break is around 10.45am for 15 minutes.

I do 1-1 support work during some lunchtimes so I've seen the dining hall. If they've actually got their food (so, the clock is starting when they sit down?) 15 minutes is enough for the majority of KS2 children. When we were confined to classrooms for lockdown I know I counted every minute on that clock and we probably only had 5 (at most) out of 30 children who would still have food in front of them at the end of the allotted half hour. The rest had finished in 10 minutes and were swinging from the rafters waiting for their scheduled outdoor play session.

I'm not saying it's fair, obviously if some take a long time, they should be given the space to do so. I'm not sure why they aren't allowed to stay longer, unless there's limited space in the hall or they're keeping them separate because of covid still?

@GottaGoCYa

They had a full hour for lunch before, so DC took around half an hour to eat and then other half to play.

Only other break is around 10.45am for 15 minutes.

So their in-class time has increased by fifteen minutes?

When my dc started school (not in the UK) ten minutes for eating their lunch was completely standard across the whole school. I was completely horrified. However, it turned out absolutely fine and it was enough time. However, it didn't include actually getting their lunch. Just eating it.

@GottaGoCYa

DC said it's 12.15 until 12.45pm altogether, so 15 minutes eating, 15 minutes in the playground, including toilet use (DC takes forever in the bathroom so I doubt he gets to play for very long).

That is really, really sad.

I would actually be more bothered about the lack of play time. Children need a chance to let off steam!

Why on Earth would they encourage children to eat as quickly as possible?? I could eat my lunch in less than 15 minutes but it's not a good thing. I have a history of being overweight and eating beyond the point of being full. A big part of losing weight was eating more mindfully and enjoying the food rather than rushing to eat as much as possible.

15minutes sat down at the table would likely be tight but doable.

15 minutes to line up, get served, find your seat and eat... the last ones in line will have no time.

At DDs school they have 30mons in the hall and 30 minutes outside.

One of their previous schools it was 30minutes, but it was a large snack rather than a meal as school finished at 1 after starting atv7.30.

@MilduraS

Why on Earth would they encourage children to eat as quickly as possible?? I could eat my lunch in less than 15 minutes but it's not a good thing. I have a history of being overweight and eating beyond the point of being full. A big part of losing weight was eating more mindfully and enjoying the food rather than rushing to eat as much as possible.

Exactly and causing indigestion

It's nice for the dc to socialise and have some downtown

Not in UK but my reception aged class eat for ten mins then ten mins play (all packed lunches in classroom) at break then another ten mins to finish packed lunch and twenty mins play for lunchtime . They do however go home at 1:30.

I find that plenty of time even for the chatty ones, which my own child is.!

Do you mean it's 15 minutes to eat and then a period of time where they are expected to play

That I don't mind (any time queuing for food shouldn't be included)

If the entire break is 15 minutes thats wrong

Yup, sounds about right to me. Was in a school working last week and it really upset me watching 5yr olds trying to gobble their food. Not so bad for kids with packed lunch but trying to eat burger and chips in that time is horrible.

Teaching in KS2, most children have finished eating in about 10 mins. I don't thinks it's way off to be honest.

Ours get thirty minutes in the dining hall - most have eaten in 15-20 mins and then there’s clearing away, lining up etc then they’re outside for thirty minutes whilst the other half of the school who have been outside for 30 minutes go inside to eat.

It's the same in our school as the next lot have to eat. The queuing system is quick though. As each class has a five minute slot. Lunchbreak is still an hour long they get to go outside and play for the rest of it. Younger kids get 3 breaks so I send 3 snacks. Normally an apple/ flapjack or muesli bar / banana. Sometimes they come home depending on how nice/ filling lunch was.

I would email the headteacher and ask to explain why they think reducing their time to eat and play is considered appropriate.

Email Is better as it is harder to ignore.

I despair at the thoughtlessness towards children in schools, I really do

Ours get 45 mins for lunch and due to covid rota in dinner hall has meant they have to leave dinner hall quicker. But my children always used to rush lunch as fast as possible so they could get out to play, seemed to be what most of them did. Suppose rushing to get out is different to being rushed though.

@Iggly

I would email the headteacher and ask to explain why they think reducing their time to eat and play is considered appropriate.

Email Is better as it is harder to ignore.

I despair at the thoughtlessness towards children in schools, I really do

To give them more time in class?

I think this a so sad. Why has the time been shortened? School isn’t supposed to be just about the classroom. They need time to eat, having a health relationship with food, and to play with time to run around properly. It should be an hour for lunch, to include food and play.

I’m sure that’s why but it will be counter productive, especially for the ones who don’t eat that fast @Pumperthepumper

And the lack of play time is disgraceful.