After-school food provision

[Bananacentral]

Not sure if AIBU or not - is this an ok food provision???

DS who is 6 goes to afterschool club - 3:15-5ish but it opens until 6pm. I’ve always been a bit dubious about the “snack” served but as he’s my only child and not many mum friends to ask I’m not sure if what they provide is ok or awful!

Today I collected him and he had a single rice cake with a ton of jam on top, he said they could have had an apple but that all the other children had gotten their first and eaten them.

This is the first time I’ve known rice cake, but other days the snacks are: waffles (sweet prepackaged), raw crumpets, chocolate brioche, cheese and crackers (2 x small crackers). Sometimes there is enough fruit, other times he’ll go without if the other children get there first and they run out.

Totally prepared to be told this is standard if it is, but considering writing email to ask about review of what’s provided etc (or whether they’ll reduce cost if I send with own snack!)

Well those are snacks. What is your issue? The fact they’re all a bit unhealthy?

I think it's quite normal, they generally come out starving. Perhaps pack him something? I think you're paying for the childcare not the snack.

Raw crumpets?!? That’s definitely unreasonable.

Yes I guess it’s just the level of sugar/highly processed packaged food I didn’t expect.

wouldn’t mind so much if there was definitely fruit available

Yes he comes out starving and I do take him a snack for the journey home.

would I just be better sending in his own snack or is that not the done thing?

no issues paying for the childcare, totally get what most of that money is for and am very appreciative as he enjoys the activities they provide

Send your own in. An apple isn’t going to break the bank is it?

My son was starving after school when he'd been to club. Such a range of appetites and tastes but sometimes they did hot dog and pasta / sauce which he loved. Send something if you're not happy with it if he's still hungry

What kind of setting is it? What were you told about snack when you signed up?

it sounds similar to what the one I was involved in used to have, but we were very clear to parents about the offering being limited as we had no access to the school kitchen, I access to a fridge and things were bought on the day so it also depended on what the shop had on the day

Yes you're grand to send him with his own snack, but I don't think you can ask for a reduced fee. The snack is just a sugary bonus, not charged separately.

Mine have a mini dinner- eg 2 chicken nuggets and a potato waffle. I find it v strange and would rather they had snacks, even highly processed ones, like yours

Your only valid complaint here is running out of fruit.

Its a light snack to last until dinner. Not a meal.

My kids got more of a meal when they went but it certainly wasn’t very healthy but they had limited cooking facilities. They often ate again at home. If it’s just a snack and he’s hungry then yes send him in with a snack and he can have both then

How much are they charging?

Our ASC is similar it’s a wrap or something like a croissant or pain au chocolat. A little snack to tide them over after school before home.

but it’s only £4 an hour.

My son is too young for after school activities as he’s in reception but when I collect him at 15:10 I take a peanut butter sandwich, he then has a biscuit when we get home or similar as well as a plate of chopped veggies and fruit! He’s always starving! I doubt their lunches are big and although they have afternoon snack, it’s usually an orange which he probably doesn’t eat. Maybe ask if you can provide a snack?

I just can’t get past the raw crumpet!? Is that a thing people eat….? I have never thought to have crumpets raw…

They aren't raw though... just cold.
Like bread is raw toast.

Ok yes I see what you mean… maybe it was the use of the word raw that threw me…! Still can’t say I’ve ever thought to have a crumpet uncooked though doesn’t sound very appealing at all!

Our after school club does sound like it offers better stuff. Wraps with cheese/ham, veg sticks, fruit etc. It's not a full meal, but I wouldn't expect it to be. I guess it depends on what yours charges as to whether it's reasonable or not. Ours is £15 for up to 3.5 hours.

I’m surprised people are saying this is normal! Ours get a couple of sandwiches, rolls or (mini) wraps, then something like cucumber & peppers and then fruit - normally apple and an orange.
Yours sounds like not enough and also v unhealthy.

I'd say send him in with fruit to make he gets some. Then he can have the carby snack as well? Unless you could say to them please don't serve this and give a sandwich or whatever you'd prefer for them to serve him. I'd say raw crumpets sound disgusting though!

Our ASC is similar timings wise and they get soup, toast, wraps, occasionally pizza slices, fruit, cheese or ham rolls. It's a bit of a mixed bag so you never know if they are getting a smaller snack or something a bit more substantial.

Send him in with something you know will tide him over - an apple, banana, some oatcakes etc - but I don't think you can ask for a reduction in payment.

At DS' school they get lunch left overs, not from people's plates but good that hasn't been taken from the sandwich option so usually cheese, tubs, ham salad etc sandwiches and wraps and whatever the pudding was, so brownies or cookies etc and always jam sandwiches and fruit. There is always more than enough but that's not great either, on one occasion DS ate 4 jam sandwiches a brownie and a cake, so jacked up on sugar and too full for dinner, having had a cheese salad wrap for lunch. We have an agreement now that he has hot lunch on ASC days and he has savoury sandwiches if he wants cake at ASC that way if he's not hungry later he's essentially just swapped lunch and dinner. Today they had sausage rolls left over from the WBD parade picnic. He was chuffed.

Many settings don’t have access to facilities to make or store sandwiches.

I'm not sure if you think it's too much, or too little, or too processed, but just send an extra apple in his book bag maybe?

What do you want them to give for a snack?