High school lunch starting at 1.45pm

[Bagpuss2022]

I have had two older sons go through this high school and no issues and one has chronic health issues that required a lot of support they have been brilliant.
however since this year my y8 daughter has lunch at 1.45pm she then has afternoon season of half a hour 2.15pm til 2.45 then finishes she’s said she feels faint she has a big breakfast and a snack at 11.30but surly kids shouldn’t be expected to eat lunch at 1.45pm?? My son is type 1 diabetic he went to this school but it was normal 12.30 times for lunch this is ridiculous I think

My DD has a similar time for lunch break and splits her lunch across the first break and lunch break. Neither break is very long so it makes going to the loo and eating more manageable.

I'm sure this has been mentioned, when I worked in schools in Spain the school day ended at 2pm and then everyone went home for lunch. Dinner is obviously a bit late there but 7.30/8pm for a secondary school dinner time isn't unreasonable. We have kids in sports clubs though so normally have a choice of 4.30 or 9pm for dinner 😂

Id say a normal lunch time is anywhere between 11.30-1430. if she’s feeling faint by 1.45 having had a good slow release breakfast before school and a large snack at 11.30 then id be off to the doctors becuase a teen should be able to maintain her blood sugar for more than 2hrs 15min on a decent snack - is double and triple check she is actually eating what you think though and not actually having haribo and a coke and then having a sugar crash! if she does get diagnosed with some form of blood sugar issue then the school will need to make appropriate arrangements to sort her health needs

I work in many different high schools and the most common lunch time seems to be 1.30-2. I think as a pp has said, kids function better in the morning so maybe that’s why. I would pack her a decent snack to keep her going.

My so has a break at around 11 then a late lunch - they all eat their main meals in the first break - usually a packed lunch in my sons case except for a Friday when the school lunch is his favourite.

It's normal, my school has lunch at 1.40 for an hour then last lesson goes on until 3.40. Is it ideal? Maybe not, but that last lesson is always a difficult one to get the DC concentrating. The 4 lessons before lunch are much better for their actual learning. So it's a compromise between learning and a reasonable lunch time. There is also a break at 11 when many eat a substantial snack.

They do this at my sons school. He eats his lunch in morning break (11:30) and has a snack at lunchtime.

Its far too late. Complain to the school.

This is the same as my children's secondary school. I assumed it was due to better concentration in the morning. Why can't she just eat a sandwich at 11.30?

What does this mean? Surely you know that type one diabetics have HIGH blood sugar, not low?

Hmm. People with T1 have problems with both high and low sugar.

No they don’t they have both very low lows and very high highs my other child has type 1 and has for 10 years.
she does have a substantial snack at break but it’s 10 mins and if she needs the loo etc it’s not long at all
i don’t want the school to change for just me I just think 1.45 is very late

Yes its a normal lunch. When I worked in a super market the lunches were 11. -12.30 12 30-1.30 and 13.30 -14.30. Now working as a lone worker I tend to eat around 1 30 to 2. 7pm for dinner is normal to early for me we often do not eat until 8pm.

No I dont feel faint

What do you think the outcome of the OPs complaint would be other than making her look like a PITA parent? They change their whole school timetable?

yes, type 1 diabetics on insulin have low blood sugar as well as high, but you’re saying your daughter suffers from low blood sugar and has all the signs of a being a type 1 diabetic which makes no sense, she’s not on insulin if she’s not a diagnosed type 1

NO she’s not type one she was investigated 3 years ago and she has had the antibody test she’s at a higher probability of having type one, currently she is not she has low blood sugars often and some odd high readings but not enough to be diagnosed this happens quite a lot but this is not about that 1.45pm is ridiculous in MY opinion

It’s probably due to capacity.
If she’s hungry I’d take packed lunch for 11.30 break. Have lunch then.
Then treat 1.45 as a break and have a snack - hot cross bun, banana etc.
It would suit my dc who prefers to eat later. She eats porridge with protein powder & banana to get her through morning.

So basically OP 1:45 is rediculous is your opinion, some people agree some people disagree but nothing is going to change the fact that is what time they have their lunch so either work out strategies around it for your DD or dont its up to you.

Fasting actually resolves a lot of low blood sugar issues. It’s eating too frequently that can cause the spikes (varies from person to person of course).

It's strange to have lunch and then only half an hour back in lessons before finishing.

Doesn't seem like the best layout for the day although I assume the school must have some reason for doing it this way ?

I would contact them about it OP.

So can she not just eat her butties at 11.30 then and solve this non-issue?

I think 1.45 pm is ridiculous for lunch in this country. There's no point saying "they eat lunch later in Spain etc", they also have a siesta, dinner much later and also go to bed later. Completely different set up to the day.

In this country most children are use to having lunch probably between 12 - 1 (possibly 12.30 - 1.30). Tea/dinner about 6 - 7 pm.

I would be eating my own arm if I had to eat lunch at 1.45 pm.

But there's not much you can do. Does she have packed lunches? If yes, I would encourage her to have something more substantial at her break at 11.30 (so for example a sandwich) and then possibly just a snack at 1.45 pm (so a yogurt and fruit).

Large schools frequently have staggered lunchtimes to allow all the students to buy and eat food. Logistically it's impossible to get everyone who wants a meal through a school canteen at one sitting. The time of the lunchbreak changes each year for a year group, to make it fair. In some schools the times change every weekday. In my school the students actually ate their substantial meal at morning break, to leave lunchtimes free for sports/clubs.

What do you think contacting the school will achieve, exactly?

Well...

1. If OP's daughter is having genuine problems due to medical reasons then alternative arrangements can be made for her.

2. If it's due to staggering breaks and her being in a particular tutorial group, she might be moved to a group that has an earlier lunch.

3. Highlighting the issue generally with the school - if a lot of people are finding this difficult and contact the school about it then they may re-evaluate their timings.

And just generally because it's good to have a conversation if your child is struggling with something at school?

1 - OP says her daughter doesn't have genuine medical problems as she's been tested already. They can't move the timetable around just because someone is hungry.

2 - it will be due to staggering breaks, but I doubt her DD can be moved just so she has a better lunchtime. Our school did staggered lunches by year group and changed it around weekly/termly.

3 - The school only has a limited amount of hours in the day. They can't fit everyone in for lunch at the same time so someone is always going to have to go last. They can't change the size of the dining area or the speed at which kids can be served/eat.

The school can do nothing about someone being hungry - she can eat before school and at break/in between lessons if she really can't wait just like everyone else has to.