Free school meals - what's happening at your school?

[KatieMumsnet]

Hi there

The BBC is reporting the challenges many schools are facing in the run up to introducing free school meals for infants (in England).

Nearly three thousand schools will have to improve their kitchens, while 1,700 schools currently have no kitchens at all.

We at MNHQ were just wondering what is happening at your kids' school? Is anything changing in the run up to free school meals being introduced in September? Are new buildings having to be added or changes made to where the school meals come from? Will the time your children have lunch or what they eat change? Is the school worried about the change or is it something being positively welcomed? Are you looking forward to the change?

Any thoughts - do let us know.

Thanks

KatieMumsnet

What they provide has to meet strict criteria regardless of combo left.

I'm talking abou the last sittings getting bread and pasta as that's all that's left or the vege options all gone and a massive cookie.

That's not a balanced meal. Not acceptable for some one who's paid or who's getting it free

Doesn't matter what guide lines say or what standards the food had to meet.

Means nothing of kids are ending up with incomplete meals

So am I Gileswithachainsaw - massive cookie should be low fat and low carb regardless of size

Doesn't mean it's a balanced meal though just because individual components measure up to whatever guide lines are set.

I certainly wasn't happy with dd living off the bread and pudding. Even if the pudding was "low sugar:fat/carb/taste" whatever.

There should be enough portions to ensure there is a meal for each child. Problems arise when children don't like what's on offer and choose bread and a massive cookie instead.

Should be- yes. Not always the case which is why many are concerned.

And I think kids are not allowed to like them. Doesn't make them fussy. The samples I tried weren't particularly nice. I wouldn't eat them free or not.

Even the meals advertised aren't high in fruit and veg and what little fruit and veg there is in the fancy titles(that are very different to reality)can be declined or left ie they often don't even hit the plate or simply end up in the bin.

My dc's puddings and cakes def have sugar in and sorry if they are having a "healthy" meal I expect it to have a fair stab at 7 a day(so 4 portions minimum),decent protein,low cheap white carbs and zero sugar.

I also expect my dc to be full and not starving soon after which unfortunately they are.

www.gov.uk/school-meals-healthy-eating-standards if you don't think your school is complying with the standards perhaps you should report them

This means there must be:

high-quality meat, poultry or oily fish
at least 2 portions of fruit and vegetables with every meal
bread, other cereals and potatoes

There can’t be:

fizzy drinks, crisps, chocolate or sweets in school meals and vending machines
more than 2 portions of deep-fried food a week

Re said standards(which are going to be axed)2 portions of fruit and veg(which they can leave or decline) is pathetic.

Also fruit juice or tinned fruit(which are often 1 of the 2)are both high in sugar and no longer counted as part of 7 a day.Ours seem to be forever having chewy over cooked,starchy sweetcorn as another alternative(no wonder it gets left).Sorry the standards aren't good enough or healthy.If we're getting the above now god only knows what they'll get when it's open season and hoards more children are having them.

They don't get enough protein(it runs out).

And sorry the puddings are far too stodgy and sugary.I don't get why my dc can have a shortbread biscuit sprinkled with sugar,fudge tart,syrup sponge or '"sticky chocolate pudding and chocolate sauce" as part of their "healthy" school dinner but a portion of home made banana cake or a choc digestive turns their packed lunch into an unhealthy meal worthy of much derision.

They are hardly up to speed on the 7 a day since that research was only published this month Retropear so 2 portions of fruit/veg plus daily free fruit/veg is more than half of the previous recommendation.

Now which view should we go with Gileswithachainsaw - And I think kids are not allowed to like them or your fruit and veg(which they can leave or decline) is pathetic

Should schools ensure children eat what they are given (if it is a healthy meal)? I'm old and we weren't given a choice.

Even by the old amount counting fruit as juice from concentrate,baked beans or tinned fruit (which are high in sugar )is pathetic.Also everybody knew it was 5 portions minimum,that veg was preferable and the more portions the better so there is/was absolutely no excuse.

The current guidelines are woeful and with the sugar/nutrition guidelines being scrapped means they are set to get even worse.

I'm sick and tired of school dinners being held up as healthy,they're not and certainly no better than a huge percentage of packed lunches.It's like the emperors new clothes and we all have to pretend simply because Clegg and Gove say they are.

As I said if your child's school isn't providing a healthy meal why not report them/complain?

They have some award and I have complained.Obviously they must be fulfilling the guidelines (although one wonders how grey minced fish fingers can be described as high quality meat)however the guidelines are crap.

That said when a huge company provide all the meals for a county I don't see what a few moaning parents will do.Also many parents won't want piles of veg and couldn't care less re stodgy puddings so won't complain.Complaints are only taken seriously when there are vast numbers.Like many we just vote with our feet and send in packed lunches most of the time.

Surely you can see that a meal can be "nutritionally acceptable"

But taste like crap. Quality of meat aside taste is important isn't it? Shouldn't they be universally palatable?? I know that doesn't garuntee kids will eat them. All kids like different things, but it's not ok to serve bland watery, slop or poor quality meat/fish and think "well it meets requirements"

And no I don't think people should watch the kids and make them eat what they are given. I think meals should be tasty enough for kids to want to eat what they are given and not bin most if it and eat the pudding

I agree that passing a guideline, doesn't mean that each child gets and eats a balanced meal.
Our school has quite a good system, you have to choose and book a meal, choice of 3, main, vegetarian or a jacket potato and filling. The veg and desert are the same for all. Each child gets given a ticket for the meal they have ordered. They rarely run out of the meals, as they have the right number booked and cooked.
The desert is always cooked pud or fresh fruit/fruit salad. I don't think much fresh fruit or salad gets eaten, but in their menu it looks as if they have it.

But the meals vary in taste and quality. The fish fingers and sausages are crap. I wouldn't buy them or feed them to my dcs, they are poor meat. I know they fulfill the guidelines, but they don't fulfill my standards.

Dd4 will be in year 1 in sept. We had a letter home about the free school meals. ATM she has packed lunches. And after trying to get herts county to discuss with me if they can meet her dietary needs (milk, egg and peanut allergies) and so far nothing, it's likely she will still have packed lunches after sept.

We live in rural area, small village school. Meals will be prepared six miles away at another school that has a kitchen and will be brought in, in heated boxes. I dread to think what they will be like by the time they are served!. The main hall will have to be used for school meals which will mean it is out of action for a lot of the day, so can't be used for wet PE lessons.
Oh and our head is tearing his hair out about it!!!

Does anyone know do we gave to take up the free meals or is it up to the school? I currently pay for my daughter to have one meal a week as she wants to because he best friend does, it does not really have any benefit to me I still cook in the evening and my DS would not eat the school meals.

I ask because I'm not sure if I want them to eat these meals everyday my daughter told me yesterday she had some pizza, macoroni cheese and bread followed by yoghurt and cranberries, not sure this is a great diet very carb heavy, I assume they keep the salt content down but it's also a lot if cheese!

Of course you'll have the chance to opt out, lilybensmum1!

My sons are at a tiny Infant school with two large victorian classrooms, a small cloakroom, toilets and a few small offices, that's it! They get food delivered and are going to try it a few times before September to iron out problems. I am happy because this will save us some money after having our child benefit cut!

You say that MrsJamin but some schools are making them compulsory so it's a valid question.

In fact, I must remember to ask at school when I get round to it.

Our school meals are already of a pretty good standard.

We are given a menu before the start of each term and the children are asked to choose which of the 3 mains and 3 desserts they would like. The school then knows exactly how much to order and how much to cook. Meals are cooked on site from locally sourced ingredients.

My dd is fussy about food but eats school dinners most days. It helps that we know exactly what she'll be eating - she's not being served liver and cabbage because the child in front got the last portion of fishfingers and beans.

We've been told that ks1 will be eligible for free meals as of September but not asked if we'll be taking them. I'd imagine that not much will change, numbers wise. The kitchen and school hall can cope with the numbers.

We had a new building fairly recently, and school lunches are pretty good - healthy and often (won't say always) tasty, with decent choices. Cooked on the premises. Take-up is excellent, and the cooking clubs are the most over subscribed in the school.

I doubt much will be changing - I'm a governor, and haven't heard of any changes being made within the school as yet, but will keep ear to the ground

Very little advice to schools. Some preparation as far as the kitchen and staff go, but lots to do.
New kitchen equipment needed, employ more dinner staff as existing dinner staff (including the school cook) unable to fulfil contracts of the longer hours which will be needed.
School reorganising teaching day to be able to feed all children (240 place school).
Staggered lunch across a longer lunch time will be needed.
Some children will need to stop for lunch at 11.30, but working on earlier/later lunch times.
Letters to parents/ brochure for new starters in September is written/sent to parents suggests free school meals will be in place, but very sketchy with no detail as we don't have the detail to give.
Some thoughts in school about 'do all children HAVE to have a free school meal', do we stop packed lunches altogether?, is this a battle with parents worth having?

A very disorganised initiative!