Jam sandwiches at wraparound care

[JBeanGarden]

My reception age DD goes to a really well arranged breakfast club and after school club 4 days a week. It works very well with 2 commuting parents. I only have one gripe and that is with the food they offer. Technically the food should align with the school’s healthy eating policy, as it’s run by the school not an external provider. The school has asked parents not to provide sweet treats in lunch boxes and it’s quite strict about sandwiches.

HOWEVER the school is not transparent about the wraparound food offer and I had to email three times to get them to tell me what they provide. Once they did, they disclosed that the after school options include a range of sandwiches, including jam, plus a pudding of cake and fruit. Of course, my four-year-old always goes for a jam sandwich and ends up with a very sweet tea 4 days a week. The school says they offer carrot sticks etc, however, not one single parent has ever mentioned this in conversation and so I just think it’s something they say but don’t provide.

We do talk at home about the importance of a balanced diet, but she’s still only four and temptation is there! She’s offered something a bit more nutritionally balanced she gets home, but she’s usually just full of jam sandwich!

I emailed the school to ask them if they are able to comment on this or if they ever review the food that they provide at wraparound care, but I haven’t received a reply. AIBU to push this further?

It's been suggested to the OP that if she doesn't like what's on offer, she should provide her own.

Which I agree is the answer, if the parents want higher quality food without paying higher fees.

Pretty much, yes!

I think she flounced hours ago.

Mmmm wafer thin donkey ham.

😁😂

That was my point.

Yes, apparently MN isn't sufficiently pro ham for her.

I do find it really strange that you really had to dig to find out what food was on offer.
Surely other parents have asked and there must be some with allergies or food preferences (vegetarian) that need to be noted.
Is there no menu available for parents to view when they collect their child?
I'm sure an ofsted regulated setting has to make that available.

Anyway, I also would not want my small children eating jam sandwiches 4 times a week. Unless they are being given just a snack ie allowed to go and help themselves then I can understand how they are filling themselves up.

I always found the 'well we do offer carrots' line a bit much, when everyone (the carers, the parents and the children) knew they'd choose the biscuits every time.

If lunch is at midday they're hungry by 4 or 5pm.

Aren’t the ASC offerings just meant to tide them over until they get home? I doubt my dd knows exactly what her 3 are offered every day, but I can guarantee they’ll be hoovering it up whatever it is - jam or not - and all are very slim, active and healthy. Gdd1 did once ask me for warm milk ‘like I get at ASC’ - other than that I don’t know, but dd certainly won’t be picking holes - she’s very grateful for the ASC, and the Gdcs love it.

Dh once went to fetch Gds a bit early - he was most put out and Dh had to go back later!

My needing childcare days are well behind me, thank God. I now provide childcare for my GC's and happy to say, a jam sandwich has never passed their lips in my care 🤣

why don’t they just give the kids a yoghurt and a banana or something? Why does it need to be a sandwich? Seems a bit much considering the children will be having a meal at home not that long after.

If you are choosing to hand over all responsibilty for feeding your children during the week, they are not going to be eating great quality food, assuming it is a state school. School dinners are usually awful, and certainly not comparable to a home cooked meal. Most people expect after school club food to be a snack to keep them going, and then give their children dinner at home.

If you're worried about sugar, this wouldn't be any better.

I gave up on OP as soon as she started rambling about UPFs (page 1 or 2)... I'd rather she had a ham sandwich...

I don't like the sugar, but I'll give my young child carcinogens in the form of flat pink processed pig leftovers, fat, salt, nitrates and... God knows what else.

Oh well.

Fruit and sugar, wankers!

Tell her that she is not allowed to choose jam and has to have a different option. For most children, the little snack they get at afterschool club is just that, a snack - their main meal comes at home.

Sugar is better than dead processed pig

Completely agree with you OP. It’s basically a sugar sandwich, no nutritional value at all. And don’t get me started on the bread!

It’s a jam sandwich not a Big Mac.

I’ve not read the full thread so apologies if anyone has already linked this, but there is new nutrition guidance for early years children (of which your daughter is in reception).

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6839b752210698b3364e86fc/Early_years_foundation_stage_nutrition_guidance.pdf

Although guidance, there is an exception that schools are adhering to the main principles of it. As a school Early Years Lead, I’ve had to support with significant changes across school, including food offered for school dinners and wraparound to ensure that we are meeting this guidance.

You could ask if they felt that their current offering is in line with the DfE’s expectations for nutrition for their early years attendees.

It’s a snack

DS had jam sandwiches and flapjacks or something similar he went to private prep

i was just pleased he was happy there and could wait for dinner (healthy most of the time…) as it was a long day for him

I didn’t expect more some of the children were very tired and whiny I guess a jam sandwich goes some way from stoping them whine

@JBeanGarden hang on -'willing to bend on this one'???? You really do want it all. Count your blessings that you have such easy childcare arrangements and just adjust dinner time and content to allow for the after school snack. You sound very entitled. It's your choice to work and make arrangements for your school accordingly. Pay for an after school nanny if this is such a big deal for you then you can dictate what she eats.

My son doesn't go to ASC so I've just looked at the school website and it is £9 per day and says a light snack and juice are offered. With breakfast club, it says that cereal and bagels are offered (that's £4 per day).

Well, that's what the OP has said. If you're not going to believe what an OP has said, what's the point in replying at all?

you don't know how big or how many jam sandwiches she's eating

we don't know if the children are allowed to eat 'food from home' or not (not all ASC permit it)

Then surely it would be an issue no matter what she's eating if she's so full from eating sandwiches? Be it jam, ham, cheese or hummus. It will also be the bread that is filling her, not what's inside it.

I think the staff doing the after school activities would be allowed to do any of this food prep.