to think schools should allow flexibility between packed lunches and school meals?

[NameChanger206]

My child’s primary school had just implemented a policy which asks parents to choose either packed lunch or school meals, with no option to switch day to day (previously we could). It’s in quite a deprived area, and while some days the school lunch options are fine, other days they really aren’t great and many kids simply won’t eat— and I don’t think it’s fair to expect parents to fund a packed lunch every day when free school meals are available in KS1 for all, any many in KS2 too.

Surely it would make sense to allow a bit of flexibility — for example, letting children have school meals on certain days (especially if they’re entitled to free meals) and bring packed lunches on others?

I understand they need to plan catering numbers, but this feels unnecessarily rigid, especially given how tight finances are for many families right now.

AIBU to think schools should show a bit more flexibility here?

We can decide on the day. I would say the downside to this is not much is prepared on site. Instead all the orders go to a central kitchen and then food is shipped out to thousands of pupils in dozens of schools in Insulated hot boxes. I do think if they were preparing on-site then knowing numbers a week in advance is fair. I think you should be able to have lunch / packed lunch as you choose.

Our school doesn’t ask for a choice. Kids can do what they want day by day. I don’t know how they make it work.

Both DC have total flexibility. 1 DC chooses their option in the morning, the other just says if they are having a school dinner and then chooses in the lunch hall.

Both schools now offer a main, veg option, sandwich or jacket potato. One school also offers pasta too.

At DD's primary school they say during registration whether they're on packed lunches or school dinners.

Most of the primary schools round here are the same, or parents fill in an app at the start of the week. You can mix and match though.

I get what some people are saying about fussiness but DD ate everything put in front of her at nursery but school dinners are not of the same quality so a few weeks into reception we switched to predominantly packed lunches. This way I know she's eating a balanced meal and has a full tummy for afternoon classes.

That sounds unreasonable to me. In the school I work in, and the ones my kids go to, you just select in the morning if you are having a school lunch or packed lunch.

You lost me with 'I don’t think it’s fair to expect parents to fund a packed lunch every day'. You had a child but you don't think you should be responsible for feeding it? You think tax payers should be responsible for feeding your child? Wow.

Other catering outlets are not providing possibly 400 meals a day, all of which need to be served in an hour. It's not Brenda's Cafe serving 30 meals a day most of which are full English breakfast. On the miniscule budget allowed minimising waste is essential. As a country we spend more feeding a police dog than we do on a childs school dinner.

Sorry, I’m talking about others in the school who are struggling financially, not myself. It’s not fair as many other schools allow a mix and match approach and parents can access the free school meals the government offer.

for the record, I have a KS2 child, I’m not entitled to free school meals and I fund everything. I pay plenty of tax - I’m an additional rate taxpayer. I also pay for all my child’s food - including £3 a day for school meals.

I was just thinking of the wider school population.

Do they not offer sandwiches as an option. My kids school had a hot meal meat/veg option, jacket P or sandwiches. As did the school I did a brief dinner lady stint in. I’d ask this question b/c if they don’t it may be worth suggesting if they could

We have to book in advance, I think by midnight on Sunday, but I've usually mine booked a few weeks ahead. They don't make the food on site, just bring it in from a central caterer and there's really only one option per day. My son has never had dinners (awkward fussy eater!) my daughter's had dinners every day, but after a year has suddenly decided she doesn't want the Wednesday curry any more so it's packed lunch for her. Would be a nightmare if it was all or nothing.

Ours just go into school and the first task each day is to highlight their name on the interactive board in a certain colour which corresponds to either lunch box, or a pick of three school meals available that day. They do it on the day, each day.
We just upload money to an app for school dinners. If you’ve forgotten to put money on, the kids still get food, your account just goes in to the minus until you upload money.

I’m in Scotland and she either takes a packed lunch if she doesn’t like what’s on the menu that day.

if she’s school dinners, they take the order on the day with the register.