Son no longer eating at school

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My 6 year old son's school do hot school dinners only. He has always been a good eater, and is renowned for his 2nd and 3rd helpings.

But for the last couple of weeks, he won't eat at school, can't get any reason out of him, the school have phoned a couple of times to collect him before end of school, as they say he is ill, but he's not, as he eats as soon as he gets home.

Does anyone have any advice, or experience of this?

Sounds like something is going on. Do they insist they eat everything?

Mine was a bit scared by the seating policy. At our school they walk into the hall and are seated at the next spare place. That puts the younger ones sometimes with older ones who aren't always being kind.

Having said that, there is a bug going round here that involves a temperature, cough and being completely off food - lasting about 3 weeks.

Could he like the being taken home element of not eating? Has he noticed that if he doesnt eat he sometimes gets to go home?

Otherwise maybe someone on his table is picking on him?

Change him to packed lunches....ask he teachers to get to the bottom of it...they are there and you are not...they need to d more.

They have to eat all that they choose - i.e. I know some parents were moaning that their children were eating one single thing (cucumber/tuna/rice) as that is all they were choosing, and the school's attitude was as long as that is all they chose, and eat it all that's fine

Seating they are sat with their class (12-15 in a class) but can select where they sit in that group.

I did ask if friendships alright, but they seem to be, and he's happy in all other counts.

I did wonder about the taking him home, so the school gave me a pointed talking to as to why that's not why they are phoning me, when they believe they should be every day to collect him.

Definitely think there's something he's not telling you. I tend to find these things do come out in the end.

Usually some time later, when you're least expecting it.

that does sound a bit worrying

can you give him packed lunches instead?

I was mildly bullied at the dinner table at school when I was about 8 - we all sat in the same place every day, a mixture of all ages and I was picked on by older children. Doesn't sound like your son's problem though.

My DD is revolted by children with unpleasant eating habits - anything from unbridled belching to someone turning his eyelids inside out at the table (not exactly an eating habit, but that one actually made her hurl). The level of supervision at the tables appears to be minimal and the standard of table manners abysmal. I'd certainly ask him and the school about it.

Do they really ring you just because he's not eating? Hmm. I think I'd ask them not to, but there's something going on there.

Unfortunately no one has packed lunches, so I don't think he'd go for that for alienating (sp) himself.

Eating habits could be a clue, he does have a real issue with how people eat. When he was much younger (2, 3 years old) he wouldn't eat in front of anyone other than the immediate family.

Yes, they say 'he'll waste away as he's not eaten any lunch, there must be something wrong with him, have you taken him to the doctors as he must be ill.'

He is the biggest child in the infant school and is in yr1.