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Original poster

School toast

229 replies

Fairycake89 · 20/02/2023 14:12

Today I forgot to pay my 6 year olds toast money which they have at morning break. They gave every single child a slice of toast besides my daughter.

I have never forgotten before. Could they not have just put a note in her book bag as a reminder? Or sent a text.

You pay online for the term so I have paid it now (20p per day) including todays… even though she didn’t get any.

Should primary schools be more understanding? It’s not the child’s fault, it was mine.

Is it fair to single them out ? Toast for you, toast for you, NO toast for you , toast for you….

OP posts:
5128gap · 20/02/2023 16:01

Its an awful thing for the school to have done. Especially in the current climate where some parents might have been unable to afford the cost that day. Quite shocked at any adult who would think it OK to deny a child a 20p slice of toast.

CantMakeHeadNorTail · 20/02/2023 16:01

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Sherrystrull · 20/02/2023 16:02

EmmaDilemma5 · 20/02/2023 14:32

YANBU. That seems very insensitive of them.

Also, 20p for a single slice of toast? It's 80p for a loaf at Tesco (or 40p for the cheapest).

Are they profiting off it?

I've never known a school to make toast at break. The school I work at, kids bring their own snack if wanted and then they all get a free piece of fruit as part of the government scheme (not the best quality fruit but hey, it's free).

Heaven forbid a school should raise some money that goes back into buying things like heating, electricity or glue sticks.

Sugargliderwombat · 20/02/2023 16:05

5128gap · 20/02/2023 16:01

Its an awful thing for the school to have done. Especially in the current climate where some parents might have been unable to afford the cost that day. Quite shocked at any adult who would think it OK to deny a child a 20p slice of toast.

If that's the case they are entitled to free school meals. Toast is an extra that isnt offered in 99% of schools - the school are obviously trying to fundraise. The FSM children can also sign up to get free milk each day.

Favouritefruits · 20/02/2023 16:24

I totally understand how you feel, my 5 year old reception child came home in tears today as they had pancake tasting, my son didn’t get one because he has a dairy allergy so he sat watching everyone else eating pancakes distraught at being left out. I have asked his teacher multiple times if they are doing cooking or baking to let me know so I can sort out a dairy free option for my son, she didn’t let me know I’m not asking her to make an alternative so I don’t understand her problem, this has happen multiple times now.

it makes you feel so rubbish as a mum thinking about your child sat without anything whilst everyone else is tucking in doesn’t it.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 20/02/2023 16:26

YANBU. DS's school would never do this, and I am surprised anyone would be so petty.

5128gap · 20/02/2023 16:34

Sugargliderwombat · 20/02/2023 16:05

If that's the case they are entitled to free school meals. Toast is an extra that isnt offered in 99% of schools - the school are obviously trying to fundraise. The FSM children can also sign up to get free milk each day.

Show quote history

I'm not sure where you get that percentage from? It's fairly common in the schools I'm connected to. Often its provided free with donations welcomed, and subsided by the school's fund raising, not a part of it.

BlackFriday · 20/02/2023 16:38

afinishedkiss · 20/02/2023 14:52

I cannot believe they passed over a child and not gave her a slice of lousy toast. Christ on a bike.

Not all the children will have had it though, just as loads never took up the free milk option. She won't have been the only one passed by.

This is a non-issue.

Name999999 · 20/02/2023 16:39

Wow! That’s harsh. I wish I could transfer about £5 lunch credit to you that I never got back from my kid’s old school! Lol

DahliaMacNamara · 20/02/2023 16:48

They used to do breaktime toast at DD's primary school. It was a mini fundraiser, and at the money would be spent on new play equipment, musical instruments, that kind of thing. Nothing like all pupils had it - it would have been ridiculously time-consuming to drum up 150 slices of toast inside morning break if they had.
I get the principle, but don't get riled up about your child being left out.

Porkandbeans1 · 20/02/2023 17:11

20p for a slice of toast! What are they putting on it?

Crunchymum · 20/02/2023 17:18

My kids primary have porridge, cereal and bagels on offer every morning. I cannot believe they did this over 20p (and yes I am sure some parents are always forgetting to pay etc but seriously!)

Crunchymum · 20/02/2023 17:21

You pay online for the term so I have paid it now (20p per day) including todays… even though she didn’t get any

so you pay £12/£14 a term for daily toast? What do they do with the funds?

gogohmm · 20/02/2023 17:23

30p per crumpet? I paid 46p for 6 today, even paying £10 for the labour (1 person 45 minutes of toasting plus the associated costs of employment) you are quickly making a profit unless an incredibly small school

BrutusMcDogface · 20/02/2023 17:23

Jesus, this is unforgivable! I would be absolutely furious with this. Your poor daughter! Why the hell are they charging for daily toast anyway, when 6 year olds get a feee piece of fruit from the government?! Honestly.

Guis · 20/02/2023 17:25

Grim. A sorry state of affairs when a school won't feed a small child a piece of toast. Money or not.
All wrong. Meanness on this scale is immoral and I have to say in years past I could not imagine any dinner lady would have implemented it. I honestly think they would have been outraged and refused. At my schools certainly.

BrutusMcDogface · 20/02/2023 17:26

Favouritefruits · 20/02/2023 16:24

I totally understand how you feel, my 5 year old reception child came home in tears today as they had pancake tasting, my son didn’t get one because he has a dairy allergy so he sat watching everyone else eating pancakes distraught at being left out. I have asked his teacher multiple times if they are doing cooking or baking to let me know so I can sort out a dairy free option for my son, she didn’t let me know I’m not asking her to make an alternative so I don’t understand her problem, this has happen multiple times now.

it makes you feel so rubbish as a mum thinking about your child sat without anything whilst everyone else is tucking in doesn’t it.

This is also terrible. I am a teacher and I get the pressure; really, I do. But to single out your child numerous times, when they just had to be organised enough to ask you for something dairy free?!

WonderingWanda · 20/02/2023 17:35

School toast? What key stage is it? Don't they do the free fruit and veg for ks1 any more?

ourflagmeansdeath · 20/02/2023 17:42

This is so ridiculous. At my DD's secondary school, if there's no money they simply ask to get the parents to add it. They don't let the kids starve! The thing about parents pretending to forget is a bit dumb - it should be obvious that if you've never missed a payment before it was a genuine mistake. If it happens more often, then they should have taken actions. This is def a school issue.

GonnaBeYoniThisChristmas · 20/02/2023 17:44

Amazed that schools do toast at break.

Sounds incredibly faffy unless you have an organised and available catering department.

Is it because kids don’t get breakfast or to raise funds.

Anyway, missed point of thread but with all food stuffs I think schools are cautious not to hand out food parents haven’t consented to via the parent letter / payment form in case of allergies.

jumperoozles · 20/02/2023 17:49

How children learn to react to disappointment or things being slightly unfair is looking at how their parents react to things. Yes it seems slightly unfair if she does have toast every day but no need to go to the head over it etc. shrug shoulders, try not to forget again, move on. She will harshly be traumatised unless you make it into a big deal.
I can’t imagine EVERY single child pays for toast every day, if they did I can’t imagine now they make enough toast for a break time!! Try not to go over the top.

jumperoozles · 20/02/2023 17:50

Hardly*

RonRonRonWeasley · 20/02/2023 18:13

If it makes you feel any better, when I do morning toast with my class, we get sent the exact number of slices of toast required. The kitchen staff will just be given a number of slices per class and I don’t think it will have been done on purpose. I hope that’s the case anyway 😞

Roselilly36 · 20/02/2023 18:25

No way would I let a child go without, for 20p, the worlds gone mad.

donttellmehesalive · 20/02/2023 18:31

I haven't rtft but am a teacher so came on to say that we do the same thing. We would never deny a child a lunch, so accounts fall into arrears for unpaid lunches all the time. But we see toast as an 'optional extra' and the child can't have it if there isn't any money on their account. It is not at the discretion of the staff member serving because there isn't time to establish whether a pupil is usually in credit or not, it's just no. But parents are made aware of this in every newsletter.

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