To ask why do people not working claiming FSM get this for free?

[Sprinkledusting]

I’ve just discovered if you claim FSM and even if you’re not working, you can send your child to morning/after school club for free. And not just in our school either.
There are also sports clubs and holiday clubs during school holidays that state they are free for those who claim FSM. To claim free school meals your income has to be so low that you’re not working full time or not working at all, which of the people I know, most are not.
But those who are working have to pay for breakfast club/holiday clubs.

Can someone explain to me the logic behind this? As I simply don’t understand it.

What would you prefer then @Sprinkledusting, for these kids to be sent home hungry so that you don’t feel jealous? Would that make you feel better? After all, it’s important that small children suffer so that it’s “fair” 🙄

That doesn’t mean the child isn’t loved or lives in an unstable home though? Literally pointing out posts saying “at least my child has a loving home”. Because people on benefits don’t love their children?

Really????? I'm a single mum and my son was getting free school meals. However......all my benefits money goes on making sure they are both dressed, warm and well fed. They have never gone to breakfast clubs or holiday clubs. I make sure they are fed properly before myself. No we don't drive a fancy car or have new clothes every five minutes. I'm not "raking"it in. But my sons are polite, well mannered and thoughtful. And I'm very proud of them

the maximum income to claim fsm is something like £7400. This does exclude state benefits but some people in that bracket will be struggling hugely financially, as in choosing between heating and eating, going to food banks etc. Real poverty. Some families in this bracket might be living in hostels, bed sits, with limited access to fridges and cooking facilities even if they do have the money for food.

There is a correlation between hungry kids and poor educational outcomes, unsurprisingly. Hungry children cannot learn. They are also more likely to be disruptive / unhappy in school. That has a knock on effect on the rest of the children.

It's all very well saying "well it's not the school's job to feed starving children" but these children need feeding NOW, they don't have time to wait for a long term solution.

Still being able to claim this on a household income of 75k is crazy. No wonder local authorities are going bankrupt right now.

Really??? Why do people assume because we get free school meals that parents are poor and don't look after there children properly??? I'm a single mum one benefits. My sons have never gone to breakfast club or holiday clubs. I spend most of my money on making sure they are warm, fed and have a roof over their heads. I'm extremely proud of them..... they are bright, helpful, and friendly lads. We don't have a car or new clothes every week. But they have turned out fine being on benefits...... So please please don't assume everyone who is on benefits is struggling. Money might be tight but the love and support for my children is not

Isn't it a bit of an assumption to think that all children receiving FSM are "vulnerable?' I know of many single-parent families qualifying for FSM in which the child is exceptionally well cared for.
Low income does not always equate to vulnerable child/neglectful parent.

I was just pointing out you can be a home owner and be on benefits and not well off as you made out. Personally owning a house isn't all it is cracked out to be. Whilst you may be at the mercy of the landlord for the repairs to be done we can't afford to get things repairs etc so yeah maybe sometimes we don't feel particularly lucky. Plus we live in a shit area but can't afford to move and in order to move we need things done to the house like a damp course etc before it can sell.

I think the real problem is that the threshold for qualifying for free school meals is too low. My three children qualified for FSM when I separated from their Dad and I was on a very low income. I was working part time and claiming universal credit and I can assure you that we had no spare money at the end of each month. They don't get free before/after school club in my area but they did qualify for free holiday clubs and a hot meal funded by the HAF scheme and I am very grateful. It enabled them to attend activities and be provided with a decent meal and they felt no different to other children whose families could afford the holiday clubs. It made a huge difference to them and me but I know there are so many other families above the threshold for free school meals who could really do with some help too. Please don't feel jealous if families with even less money, it is not their fault. The issue is that the income needed to qualify for FSM is now incredibly low

Thats a huge stereotype you can qualify for fsm and still give children a good quality of life.
also you do realise TP has been around for many years. You could earn 100K plus now and your dc still quality for fsm.

I implore anyone who feels a bit jealous to watch this. The families likely to be receiving fsm are like the one in this video, yet you wouldn't have a clue as an outsider. Poor children don't all walk round in rags.

Of course they are struggling the same as you as otherwise they wouldn't qualify for UC. Do you think we are much wealhier than you? My husband was unemployed several times in recent years and they wouldn't help with the mortgage until you were nine months unemployed which could be a bit late!

You get most of your rent paid though so not sure why you are bothered? You benefit from UC in a different way. It does make me laugh on UC groups that having your mortgage paid causes uproar but it is okay for UC to pay a landlords mortgage. 😂

@LorlieS @shellyleppard its just a matter of statistics, it isn’t personal to anyone. Statistically children who receive fsm are at greater risk of poor educational, health and safety outcomes- no one thinks that applies to every single child or family with fsm- it just applies to more of them than non fsm families.

Most of the HAF clubs are priority for fsm kids but open to all.

I don't think anyone has said all children on FSM are vulnerable?

But collectively they have to be treated as so, in order for funds to be provided.

Which makes sense considering how many are.

I think the HAF activities look amazing.

I email them to ensure they know DD won't be taking up a place, she's 15. She used to want to be Rocky, but Frank Bruno's school of boxing isn't that appealing any more.

I quite fancy going lol. Not sure I could get away with it 😉 (not with my walking stick anyway 🤣).

We don’t actually claim any of the additions to the pupil premium available at her school(fsm , holiday and food vouchers )only for the school to have access to the pupil premium as it benefits them, we could though, but I guess the statistics show that those children from families newly off of those benefits are still generally in more need of support and we are not a typical scenario.

No one has said "all". And pp have tried to explain the additional pressures on parents in this situation that can lead to a higher than average number of children in this situation needing extra support and care. Would you rather this inequality was ignored?

I have been to some of these. I don't think they really check closely so OP might be able to get her son on these. Many people book and then don't turn up.

The term "vulnerable child" is a term used to describe children who experience problems that can impact their wellbeing and development. So it isn't just used to describe children who are considered at risk from DV etc. it is also used to describe children in poverty or who are homeless.

I agree. Same goes for the healthy start vouchers. Basically if you are working, even very little, you won't be entitled. I think the Conservatives have deliberately lowered the thresholds. I am sure the threshold for the two year funding for low incomes was higher than it is now.

@cadburyegg I'm aware of this; I've been in primary teaching for 20 years.
Again though, why are we making the assumption that lower wage families are experiencing problems which impact their child's wellbeing and development?

Absolutely the line has to be drawn for funding.

It's the attitudes and yes, the stigma that comes with it. There are posters on this thread lumping all many sorts of life situations into the FSMs and the not.

Turning parents into the neglectful poor and those that do better.

It's a shame really, but you can't change simple bigotry, not even by trying to educate.

It's fine - us the poor, see those people and we know they're people we'd never want to know anyway.

That's was all very convoluted 🤣

I was typing thinking eek... I need to get the bin out!

You're not just being left to manage. You are receiving a handout so be grateful for your UC.