Do schools profit from school dinners?

[polarfox]

Quite a few parents have some issues with the way the school dinners are run at the school, and we are thinking of complaining- but would be good to know in advance whether schools profit? do they care as such how many people are on them or not ? Is there any reason they would care if there was a massive exodus?

I have read on here in the past where some schools expect chilren to sign up to school dinners for a whole term, so it could be worse I suppose. But our way is much easier.

Polarfox our school you decide on the day and just put down either which hot meal or if you have brought a pack lunch. Its very flexible and th meals are very good

I am a HT - absolutly no profit on school dinners here - more like run at a loss! Main cost is on the staffing - about £1.50 out of every £2 charged.

Children choose each day what they want from menu so rigt number of meals are reday when they come to sit down. Totally fleible from day-to-day about whether you have hot meal or packed lunch.

Always a veggie choice available and we can do special diets or for religious reasons diets.

I must live near Dreamteamgirl!

Soryy rubbish spelling- toddler on lap!

ours certainly does and infact has a huge amount of cash sitting in the bank.
I was on the food panel....our school has it's own kitchens and cater for us, the infants and 3 other rural schools in the area.
I think they have made so much money because they aren't cooking enough food. There are 4 sittings rotating each year group. Every time my boys got last sitting they would complain there was nothing to eat.
They have fishy fridays with their mates, ds2 was on 1st, had 3 fishfingers and lots of chips, peas, apple crumble and custard.
Ds1 was on last, he had 2 fishfingers, 5 chips and an apple. This is just not enough food for a 11 yr old.
Part of the problem is schools get penalised for waste. The kitchens are frightened of having too much.
And they offer too much flexibility. They can't cook the right amount, because they are not sure how many chldren are eating. They have to make sure the rural outpost schools have enough, so that leaves our children without.
I'll have to put up with packed lunches 4 days a week because I'm not paying £4 a day this.

polarfox yes children at our school can alternate daily if they wish (I would rather they didn't it's a pain) but it does mean they can avoid meals they don't like and therefore won't eat. But to be fair we always have jacket potatoes, sandwiches and 2 hot meals 1 is veggie so it's very unusual for there to be nothing they like, every kid seems to like a jacket with cheese or tuna. and our chef is fab.

Oooh maybe annielennox- maybe you are our very own truly wonderful Miss G

Bet if you are you name change really quickly tho, as how awful would it be to be hounded by your parents on here no matter HOW highly regarded you are :)

I wish annie was our HT; or at least speak to ours ....

I shall give some food for thought to ours...

Staffing, electricity, equipment. ALl costs.

And you would not believe how many pieces of cutlery get thrown away.