Staying in at lunch time to finish off school work

[Choclatespread]

Today my DS didn't have any of his lunch because he had to stay in at lunchtime to finish off work that he didn't finish during class time. Is a teacher allowed to do that?

Are you absolutely sure he didn't get to eat his lunch?

Or did he just miss his lunch-time play? Cos they are two quite different things.

And yes, perfectly standard for some teachers in some schools, we've got several teachers who use this form of sanction.

He definetly didn't eat any of his lunch, it was a packed lunch and everything was still as I had packed in the morning.
I did ask him again if he got any time to play, and he replied only a short while, but there wasn't enough time to eat my lunch.
Regardless I think that's very unfair, for a child having to go the whole day with no lunch. I'm thinking about discussing it with his teacher tomorrow.
Thanks for your reply though, at least I know that it happens elsewhere as well.

How old is he?

He most definitely should have been allowed to eat his lunch. I would not be happy about that at all.

He had time to play but not time to eat?
Why did he not eat in this time, rather than go out and play?

How old is he ? Why did he have time to play and not time to eat, was this his choice of how to use the time. If he is very young he should have been asked to east his food before he had time to play. Why had he not finished his work.

I'm thinking about discussing it with his teacher tomorrow.

Go in gentle to get the whole picture first off and take it from there. if the teacher really did stop/prevent him from eating his lunch then it isn't really very good for her/him as the boy is much more likely to have a bad afternoon in her class. Which is madness if there are problems then it is going to cause more problem if he is hungry in the afternoon.

hulababy he has just turned 8.
He had time to play, but he didn't have time to eat I questioned that as well. His reply was there wasnt enough time. From what he tells me, he obviously had to stay in to finish off work, once he finished, his teacher said "go and play', he obviously assumed he wasn't allowed to eat, because maybe wasn't any time left.
I have explained to him, that as he still went out to play, he should've eaten his lunch first, but also think the teacher should've explained this to him. he has never had to stay in before, so wouldn't know the rules.

Thanks for all the replies, I will ask the teacher about this tomorrow.

Did the teacher know he hadn't eaten?
Did he say anything to the teacher re when he could eat?

mollymole he didn't finish his work, because he had loads to do, he said he had to do some cutting then arranging them in order, then sticking and also some drawing.

hulababy I know my son wouldn't question the teacher, like that. He is one of those quiet, possibly shy type child. Although I do encourage him to speak up, and ask questions, but he has alot to learn yet.

Thanks for all your input people. It did make a difference to the way I spoke to the teacher this morning.
She was very apologetic, and explained to me that although they did stay behind, for 15mins, he was meant to go and have his lunch afterwards. As he didn't realise and missed out, she reassured me, if it happens again, she will remind him to go for lunch before going out to play.