Free school meals for all infant children

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What do you think? I think it's a great idea.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24132416

Also Madagasgar it is important for all children to have a proper lunch ,getting through the afternoon on cake and bread will be detrimental to even Jamie Oliver's kids.

I live in Southwark where all primary school children get free school meals already.

I was delighted by it - first it makes up for them swiping my child benefit which we just hit the cut off for unlike our neighbours who earn far more between them.

Secondly, having seen the menu I'm rather wondering if I could pop round for lunch too! Our school sends out a list of all their suppliers who all happen to be local businesses thus supporting the community.

Then, I have a picky eater who eats well at school because everyone else is having the same - packed lunch would be a nightmare scenario.

The very high take-up will allow schools to plan better and make the meals more economical to produce.

A big sop to voters obviously, but not one I will complain about.

not read too much on it but see it as a good thing, the school my children go to there are some children who will really benefit from this. ds will just miss the cut off as he will be going into y3 when it begins. he has had packed lunches for the 3 years as it was easier to see what he was eating and cheaper in the long run to manage with stuff we already have at home like yoghurts,fruit and we were not eligible for free school meals despite being low income.

I think we are very lucky - the school meals at my kids school are good and they deal with allergies easily.

I support the plan - takes away stigma, hot food is good on drizzly cold day etc

I think plan needs to make sure the cooking standard is good, meals are varied and balanced and the environment is pleasant with adults helping children where needed

Love the idea of schools having home-grown veg on school lunch menus - idealist but hey why not

my kids school has no kitchen,theres only one boy in my sons class who has fsm and he gets a packed lunch sent every day i thinkwhat will schools without facilities do?

From what ive heard from other mums at school not many people want fsm,i would rather send mine with a packed lunch.

Isn't the pupil premium paid for children qualifying for FSM? How will this work if all infants have FSM, so there is no way to tell who would merit the pupil premium?

My children are on FSM's anyway and they love it... It all sounds so nice compared to what I had when I was at school... My county council runs a nourish food service and they have stuff like chilli con carne, chicken fajitas, curry, all served with veg and a choice between a 'treat' pudding- like Mississippi mud pie or carrot cake- Fresh fruit and a yoghurt... My kids love it and sometimes when I'm ordering it I feel a tad jealous at what they are getting for lunch!!!

I also agree with the people saying they should extend it to primary school up to year 6. Its comforting to know that when It gets cold they are getting something warm in their tums to get them through the day..

I think they will take us back to the Turkey Twizzler days to cut costs.

nadienoo - do they not have central heating in your schools then?

I wonder if its cheaper to give it to all then start deciding who is eligble and who isnt....

I have also never understood anyone allowing their kids to go to school without breakfast. My DM who is an ex school teacher and still volunteers at her old school says that often the child will say Mum is in bed or even that there is no one at home....

Who are these feckless people who cannot even be bothered to take personal responsibility for feeding their children.

Mississippi Pie and Carrot Cake(cake is cake) are what we are supposed to aspire to.

I take it the gov rhetoric re poorer people not having to pay tax for wealthier people's benefits is now out the window.So can I have my CB back seeing as my dc won't be getting this benefit and thanks to the loss of my CB don't have school dinners and thus have to endure a cold meal at lunchtime?

How is Mud pie and Carrot cake healthy? My packed lunches are certainly healthier than that, and do include a "treat" (not that we ever describe it as such, and I would be rather pissed off with a school introducing the idea of treat food to my dcs).

I am not sure why people find it hard to understand that the children of so called rich parents can also be given poor nutrition (perhaps because their parents can't be arsed or because they are too busy or whatever). Poor nutrition for children is not the preserve of the poor you know. Universal school meals and banning packed lunches would take away the differentiation and treat all children as equal irrespective of background, which frankly we should anyway as they are children! I came from an affluent family and my packed lunch was whatever my mum had to hand that morning (very disorganised). Frequently a mars bar sliced between two slices of white bread and butter.

God loads of children in the very leafy Surrey town I used to live fed their children on chicken nuggets and chips (or equivalent) every single night.

Another beneficial side-effect of free schools will possibly be less absence due to the fact that chaotic families will rely on the lunchtime hot meal. Once going to school/ taking the child to school becomes an ingrained habit, less likely to be a problem later on in school.

I totally agree, Madasabox. Very well put!

Universal school meals and banning packed lunches would take away the differentiation

It also takes away choice and the preferences of the children.

Who said it is?

It's not universal half the kids aren't having it but their parents are still paying for it.

I suspect it'll only be the squeezed middle with ks2 kids that won't have school meals and will end feeling the odd ones out.My CB exactly covered school dinners x3 which they don't now have as they're too ££££ and shite so hard to justify.

I think universal free school meals for all primary children is a good idea. I think it should be extended to year 6. I have slight reservations about the food quality across the board and whether or not providers will up the prices on account of the government subsidy though. I think they should look at help for travel to and from schools as well. Having lost CB for 3 dc, bus fares and school dinners are expensive. The dc have sandwiches at the moment as school meals are £2 a day and I can make a lunch pack for less. Pensioners have bus passes so why shouldn't children?

dreaming Yeah I think so, but its still nice knowing they have a hot meal before they go out to play IMO...

The mud pie and carrot cake are treats... my eldest DD went through a phase of having the treat puddings everyday but got sick of them and now has a yogurt most days... Its not the schools menu, its the county council scheme across most schools in Northamptonshire.

The menu for this term

Lovely,but not getting how it's better than your average Joe Bloggs packed lunch.

No use to us with allergies, will just make them feel even more different.

Would much rather have my CB back tbh.

Agree Harriet. It still hacks me right off.

Is it just me or is a biscuit,milkshake,chips and fish fingers a tad too much sugar and fat in one meal?

A spoonful of veg on the side does not a healthy meal make- just sayin.

omg there is a lot of precious parents on this thread!!

Only mn could turn this into a bad thing