Horrified by school dinners!

[WillieverlearnQ]

I went to my daughter’s school yesterday for dinner with the parents. All they had was two scoops of mash (my daughter did say that it is usually just one scoop) the thinnest slice of turkey I have ever seen and a tablespoon of carrots with a drizzle of watery gravy. With a tiny pot of ice cream. When I was at school it was nothing like this.

She has been asking for packed lunches for a long time but I’ve always refused. But today and going forward I will always make her a proper lunch.

It just make’s you question what on earth is going on? How can that be a sufficient for a child at school for 6 hours. Also why on earth are parents paying £3 for such a terrible meal.

Honestly I totally agree. My son has been ill at school almost every day and it always seemed to be directly after lunch. We thought he was playing up. He's 12 and bigger than me nearly 6ft n twice my build. It breaks down on the school app what he orders. He gets free school meals which is equivalent to £3 but I top his account up so he can get a snack at break. I noticed for a while that he would get a "chicken wrap" for free which would be his free school meal. I always thought it was a meal like a wrap and chips or salad or something. He often had to pay extra for a drink on top. So I always wonder how the kids who can't afford to top up account manage. When I asked my son I was told it was one small tortilla wrap with three chicken nuggets inside. That is literally his free school meal and he pays £1.75 for a flavoured water then another £2.95 for a bacon or sausage sandwich at lunch. I've started putting snacks in his bag because honestly its bad. I'm just thankful we can afford a little extra on occasion to top up his account so eh can have a little more if he needs too. This wouldn't be enough for me and I'm on a small meal diet due to problems swallowing.

Of course, he doesn't have a phone! He's got a cheap watch that can take photos. I asked him for proof of these crappy lunches that he kept telling me he had. I dont think I truly appreciated how bad they were until I saw it with my own eyes.

As with anything in a school it’s money, money, money. It’s decades of under funding. If you are “horrified” about the meals I really wouldn’t look further into the school. No government over the last 20 years has invested into education and it’s showing now. Meals are just the edge sadly. I work in a primary and our head teacher is dropping one day a week in order that we can keep support staff on the payroll.

It is horrific, under funded and under staffed.

If you can afford a packed lunch for your child, then go for it. Also spend your time contacting your local MP over it, rather than moaning on Mumsnet!!!

Just the same - a watch that takes photos…

There will 100% be fruits and veg that he is choosing not to have. Take the smart watch off him and teach him to eat everything on offer.

You seem to be worried about safeguarding? From one photo of a dinner tray? But no concern about the food that is going into thousands of kids??

I am concerned about food standards. I've posted (above) the national guidance on school food, expectations of schools and school governors, so that parents can challenge schools that are not meeting the standards.

I'm also surprised that a pupil is taking and sharing photos in school. A primary school policy as an example. This is serious. www.priestsicprimaryschool.co.uk/_site/data/files/migrated/policies/use-of-mobile-phones-and-wearable-technology-policy-2024-2025.pdf

Yes, if they were taking pictures of children/staff. Not food trays 🙄

I’m a secondary school catering assistant/dinner lady 😊, and our food is all well made on site, good portion sizes, and much better than I remember my school dinners being. The problem is that a lot of the children are quite fussy, and will happily choose just a bowl of plain rice, pasta, mash, roast potatoes or chips over anything else on offer, and the food waste is terrible. Half of whatever they choose goes in the bin. I have toddlers so my life is basically all about uneaten food 😂
Before I started my job, I would have assumed that teenagers are ravenous creatures who’d eat anything because they’re growing so much, but apparently not. I just wonder what their parents think when they get home and start eating the contents of the fridge because all they’ve had is a slice of toast, a cookie and a bowl of potatoes all day.

I must say I have little or no knowledge of school dinners today, but back when I attended i recall pizza, chips, spam fritters not exactly healthy...

I’m a teacher and I can confirm that they are truly dreadful

I can’t see anything wrong with the photos you’ve posted.

No, if you read the full policy and the government docs (KCSiE & Mobile Phones in Schools) the policy is based on mobile phones and other devices are interchangeable.

Schools do not/should not allow pupils to be using a mobile phone or other device including taking and sharing photos.

It's lunch

It's lunch

No, it's dinner. That's why it's called school dinner.

Looks okay to me, portion wise? Perhaps a bit small for a few of the Year 6 kids who might be starting puberty, but fine for all the rest - especially bearing in mind they could also have pudding (plus their morning and afternoon snacks).

Yeah, I do wish the quality of schools meals generally was better, but that’s partially cost and partially that they don’t have the facilities to cook fresh on site anymore. Providing that kids are lucky enough to have parents that can afford to give them a good breakfast and dinner, then those lunches are a good enough stop gap to get them through the day imo. It’s the kids for whom those lunches will be the best food they get all day that I do feel a bit sorry for. £3 doesn’t seem to buy much these days.

That doesn't apply in Scotland.

Primary school pupils should not have cameras on them, watch or not. They are not mature enough to know the ramifications of taking a joke photo of a friend in the changing rooms.

Was veg an option but he just didn't choose it?

No, that was all he was given. He loves all veg so he wouldn't have refused it.

What safeguarding children?….I very much hope it does.

Eesh, I was preparing to say you were unreasonable but those dinners do look a bit sad. At my school we get a fresh salad bar- the veggies are as horrendously boiled as in your picture but you can add a bit of crunch to your plate at least. I would be worried about your child being put off vegetables.

They are pretty shit tbh. It was a shocker for me as a teacher knowing that fit many of our kids that's the only meal they have all day

Can I ask why you wanted him to have a hot lunch? I'm always wondering about the notion of hot food vs cold food. Is it more nutritional somehow?