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Original poster

Does your children's school allow cakes to be brought in on Birthdays?

58 replies

lottieandmia · 15/04/2014 21:02

I've been thinking about this as my older dd's school which is a state special school and my younger two dd's school allows the children to bring cakes in to give to their class on birthdays. They also all come out with various chocolates at the end of terms. On special occasions they also all have cake sales.

I was wondering how common this is.

OP posts:
Twighlightsparkle · 15/04/2014 21:04

No, has never happened.

ThatBloodyWoman · 15/04/2014 21:05

At ours they often hand out mini bags of sweets.

I don't like it since I try to not let the dc's have many sweets.

Pixiedust49 · 15/04/2014 21:05

Yes always. It's lovely.

Original poster
lottieandmia · 15/04/2014 21:08

I know that some of my friends kids aren't allowed to do this and it strikes me as kill joy.

OP posts:
GoodnessIsThatTheTime · 15/04/2014 21:10

No, not at all. There would be cake 30 x a year in class!

The class has a plastic cake for singing the song though and usually sweets (haribo) are put in book bags if the parent has bought some in.

Pre-school, much smaller, used to allow cake for snack time if pre-arranged. However it had to be shop bought due to health/safety etc and unfortunately at that stage my daughter didn't like the taste of fondant or shop sponge cake as I discovered!

ThatBloodyWoman · 15/04/2014 21:11

But it's hard if you have children with either dental problems or 'weight' problems, when they're coming home every other day with sweets.

notasgreenasimcabbagelooking · 15/04/2014 21:12

Yep, it's fine in my p1 class! I know who is allergic/diabetic etc so have a wee stock of egg free/dairy free/carb counted treats in my drawer! Having a cake/buns with candles etc makes wearing the birthday hat and sitting on the birthday cushion even more special!

MrsBungle · 15/04/2014 21:14

Ours allow sweeties/chocs to be handed out on birthdays. The children love it.

BrianTheMole · 15/04/2014 21:15

Yes. Although they get handed out at the end of the day. So I guess the parents can choose to let them have it or not. although I have a fight on my hands if I try to refuse

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 15/04/2014 21:16

Small cakes or sweets to be handed out at home time, yes. Not a big birthday cake with candles on. Unfortunately it brings out the competitive nature in some parents and the cakes get more and more elaborate - luckily mine are always happy to give out Haribos.

Hulababy · 15/04/2014 21:18

At my school children sometimes bring in buns, sweets or chocolate to hand out at the end of the day on their birthday. Children have to take it to their parents to ask of ok before eating.

Dd's primary - again could take cake or buns in, precursor. But were allowed to eat in school hours.

She's now at secondary and sometimes they take buns on on their birthday. They eat it at school.

I see no issue, esp when taking home. Even if it was every child - it's only 30 buns, spread over 190 days.

Hulababy · 15/04/2014 21:19

Any child with allergies, etc generally has a stock of safe treats they can take home on same day. Parent usually provides these at start of term. Sometimes teacher provides.

OddBoots · 15/04/2014 21:20

I've never thought of cake to school, are these individual cup cakes or cutting it up would be a nightmare.

Spottybra · 15/04/2014 21:21

Yes, so long as its shop bought and taken in an unopened box. It's so they can see the list of ingredients and the unopened box means the cake hasn't been tampered with, although why someone would tamper with a cake for school children is beyond my understanding.

They also routinely have cakes and biscuits as treats in school. I'm glad I have nice, sensible teachers.

LizzieMint · 15/04/2014 21:24

Yes, cakes or sweets are generally taken in for birthdays - the only stipulation being that there can't be any nuts. They're handed out by the birthday child at the end of the day

Mintyy · 15/04/2014 21:25

Yes. A lovely tradition. I have seen cake or cakes shared for birthdays, but never sweets.

PatriciaHolm · 15/04/2014 22:22

Big cake, no, but yes to small things that are easily handed out at end of day - so sweets, or homemade biscuits.

Original poster
lottieandmia · 15/04/2014 22:25

I agree, Hula. I think they are a nice thing for the children to do and I don't see why it's a big deal.

OP posts:
Original poster
lottieandmia · 15/04/2014 22:25

But yes I meant fairy cakes or small chocolate eggs at Easter etc.

OP posts:
ShoeWhore · 15/04/2014 22:29

No not encouraged at our school. I think it used to happen but got a bit out of hand.

They do have occasional treats though and cake sales.

imip · 15/04/2014 22:33

Yes, we do have cakes/cup cakes.

A recent trend, which I despise, is handing out party bags. It is full of cheap shit. I know cakes are not hugely healthy, but at least you know the ingrediants. Cakes are also eaten in the classroom. Party bags come home and fighting ensues all evening from jealous siblings?

starfishmummy · 15/04/2014 22:40

Ds is also at a special school and cakes and sweets are allowed. They sometimes send them home with the kids rather than getting them have them there.

I once arrived for a meeting to see some parents taking in a full buffet for their child's class to have at lunchtime! It looked lovely.
Classes average about 8 or 9 children so it isn't too expensive - One Colin caterpillar cake and a pack of something suitable for a classmate who has coeliac disease.

Xihha · 16/04/2014 01:14

At DDs school they are allowed to bring in cake so long as there is enough for the teacher, the children are encouraged to help make and decorate them, they eat them during storytime. It's a small class so there's not too many birthdays but the TA occasionally makes cake for them just coz she feels like baking.

DS's school say only shop bought cakes and sweets for birthdays.

Both schools do bake sales to raise money for charity and sweets and small presents are given out at the end of term.

SavoyCabbage · 16/04/2014 04:23

I looked into this a bit when my dd started school as she has an allergy. I didn't really want her to have to feel left out 25 times a year.

Anyway, I found out it was allowed as it's 'cultural' in the uk to have a birthday cake. Which it is.

Moln · 16/04/2014 06:02

It was happening, but the it was stopped, the reason being that some children were noticed to never bring anything in

Mind you it was only one email a few years ago so I'd be suprised if it was held up.

Especially as it's been repeatedly and heavily noted there are to be no nuts as there are two children with severe nut allergies in the school, yet there's still parents who seem to think their child's need for nutella is greater (all packed lunches in th school as no school lunches avalible)