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Original poster

School dinners, procedure?

12 replies

Demented · 20/09/2004 23:12

My DS1 started School five weeks ago and I have been on a state of high alert ever since.

My latest worry is School dinners. Last week was his first week of going all day. I had no intention of sending him School dinners but they sent the menu home and it looked really nice (I think chips were only on the menu once in the week) so last week DS1 took School dinners, he came home two days saying he had soup with a roll followed by cheese and biscuits, I was really quite impressed. Parents were invited on either Tuesday or Friday to have a free lunch and sample the whole experience. DH who works from home went with DS1 on Tuesday (never one to pass up a free lunch ), when he came back he said he was impressed with the food, much nicer than he expected, and the system of the children getting their food etc seemed a bit complicated but DS1 seemed to be picking it up OK. I was happy enough about this.

On Friday I spoke to one of the other Mums who had gone for lunch on the Friday and she said she was "appalled", she said a hatch opened in the wall and two plates were shoved out (no one spoke apparently) then the children had seconds to decide between the two plates, she complained that there were no trays so the children were getting up and down to get their next course etc, she thought it was awful that five year olds had to scrape their leftovers into a big bucket "they are only bairns!" (personally DH and I think it is good that they are being taught how to do this), there were no napkins (??? eh, don't know what she was expecting) and there was a wee girl crying her eyes out because she had soup, then a main course and wanted a sweet and it had to be explained to her that she was only allowed two courses, to which the other Mum said "when they go out to a restaurant with the family no-one tells them they can't have an ice cream after their dinner".

Anyway, sorry about the long tale, if anyone is still there I just wondered if this was a typical experience of School dinners or should I be looking for something more along the lines of this Mum I was speaking to on Friday? BTW the School is large, around 350 pupils with around 90% staying for either school lunches or packed lunch (all eating in the dinner hall).

OP posts:
hoxtonchick · 20/09/2004 23:15

No experience with school dinners I'm afraid (ds is 2.7), but she sounds a bit weird this other mum. I'd be reassured that your dh was happy with it, & ds hasn't seemed confused. Maybe talk to others & see what they think? Or maybe you could wangle a free lunch too!

SueW · 20/09/2004 23:55

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

Slinky · 21/09/2004 08:07

"she thought it was awful that five year olds had to scrape their leftovers into a big bucket "they are only bairns!"

Crikey - we teach the children at nursery to do this and they are aged between 3-5yos

littlemissbossy · 21/09/2004 09:16

OMG what does she expect - silver service?
FWIW, a mum at school (our children have just started in reception) asked me if I thought the school could arrange ORGANIC milk as opposed to regular milk that they have at breaktime? "they can't afford books, but yes I'm sure they'll provide your child with an organic option"

misdee · 21/09/2004 09:21

omg. i remeber scarapping food into the pig-bin at the end of lunch from when i started school. does this woman expect her child to be waited on or something. and we only ever had 2 courses at my school as well. wish we had soup starters as the desserts were pretty horrid.

soapbox · 21/09/2004 09:34

I'm LOL at this

My DS(4) has jusr started school and I was asking him about what happened at lunch time. Wasn't getting much out of him and so was asking specific questions, one of which went like this:

me: do you queue up to get your lunch
him: no the teachers get it and bring it to us at the table
me: do you have to take your dirty plates back at the end
him (in exasperated tone): no, the teachers are our servants...

So taking their own plates back might be a good idea as otherwise like my DS they might get a little confused

roisin · 21/09/2004 10:04

Our school is a big one too Demented - 420 children, 98% stay for lunch, 50%+ for school dinners in continuous sittings, but basically 3 sittings in one hour! When ds2 first started (only just 4) I was worried how he would cope - they had to queue up with their tray, and face a HUGE choice - 3 or 4 main courses, 3 or 4 veg, 2 or 3 'potato', then 5 or 6 desserts! But he soon learned the system, and learned to make his choices quickly.

(I'm delighted though that now they have drastically reduced the choices available.)

IMO it's completely unfair to compare school dining arrangements with eating at home or in a restaurant.

I love the fact that the kids have the opportunity for a hot meal in the middle of the day, as they have always done so, and rarely have the energy to eat a proper meal in the evenings. AND it saves me the hassle of cooking after school, and making pack-ups. Our school meals could be better quality - less salt, less fat, etc; but I figure over a year they only eat 18% of their meals at school, so I think quality and nutrition at home are far more crucial!
I've told the boys they're having school dinners at least until they are 14

Original poster
Demented · 21/09/2004 10:11

LOL!

The general consensus seems to be that it is the other Mum that is barmy!

Slinky my DH has DS2 scraping his food into the bin and he's only two, we both think it's good to start encouraging them to do stuff for themselves as early as possible, this Mum thought it rather shocking.

I'm so glad that what goes on at his School seems rather normal.

She also had a complaint that the Primary 7 classes (10/11 year olds) had to sit on the stage if they had packed lunches and they had to bring their coats/jackets with them, couldn't go back to the classroom to pick them up after lunch. My thoughts on this are that at that age they are surely capable of looking after their own coats/jackets (afterall they are going to High School next year) and with 350 children, most of them using the dinner hall (staggered, they are not all there at once) it may work out that not everyone can get a seat.

She is quite loud and opinionated this Mum (hope she's not a mumsnetter as I'm sure she will recognise herself).

OP posts:
roisin · 21/09/2004 10:15

Hope your ds continues to enjoy his school dinners!

roisin · 21/09/2004 10:20

DS1 has a child in his class whose mum is always complaining loudly about something ... it drives me barmy. She never has a positive word to say about school, and this is a superb school. But some people are just like that aren't they?

I just had a gorgeous letter from ds1's last year teacher saying how much she appreciated OUR support encouragement last year, and to say thank you for the present we got her.

I'm not surprised that hmb and other teachers on here get fed up at times at some of the posts.

Original poster
Demented · 21/09/2004 10:23

Mean to say "this Mum thought it rather shocking" at five.

I agree Roisin it is unfair to compare a restaurant/home with School dinners. I had to stop myself from laughing when she was talking about the lack of napkins in the dinner hall!

OP posts:
stickynote · 21/09/2004 10:35

I really wish our County did school dinners .

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