DC on free school meals being singled out

[nothingcomestonothing]

I wasn't sure where to put this. My DCs small, single form entry Primary has been on the very catious side of things re covid (in my opinion). Last week we got an email with arrangements for September, including lunch arrangements, which are stated to be changing due to the need to socially distance in the kitchens.

All of KS1 will get FSM, as all are entitled. The DC in KS2 who are entitled because of low income will get FSM, and the rest of KS2 have to bring packed lunch. The KS2 DC who get FSM will be asked their meal choices at registration each morning.

Now it seems obvious to me that the KS2 who get FSM will be stigmatised by this plan - it will be obvious to the whole class that that their family have a low income, and will lead to teasing or worse. I think the DC this applies to will then decline the FSM so as not to be stigmatised, or their parents will, and potentially some v vulnerable DC will miss out on possibly their only good meal of the day In my view, whatever the system is, it shouldn't publicise DCs vulnerabilities like this.

Is anyone else's school doing this? I emailed the head with my concerns, got no reply. For context, DDs secondary school are offering hot meals for nearly 2000 DC from roughly the same size kitchen as the Primary school has which apparently can't make 250 or so hot meals safely. Is there some guidance or practice from other schools which I can highlight to DC's school on how to be super cautious without doing it like this?

[TulipsAndLilacs]

Think how many benefits bashing threads you see on here; those people have children, who will be hearing those views at home
Exactly. I remember benefit basher parents at my dcs' primary. No coincidence they tended to have kids who were unkind/bullies.

[cansu]

Many children get FSM. The kids in the class won't even register this. There won't be anything said about their meal being free. The children are simply being asked what they want to eat. I think you see this as being shameful and are therefore thinking others and in particular children will also see this similarly.

[NataliaOsipova]

@michelle1504

"I am not unemployed. I am a sahm."

Isn't a SAHM technically unemployed? The same as a 'housewife'? I'm not meaning this to be snarky, just wondering about folks different ideas of what constitutes 'unemployed'.

Oh God - this again. No, “unemployed” means available for and actively seeking work. Those who are not working and are not looking for work are “economically inactive”. Standard definitions used all the time. If everyone who didn’t work (pensioners, SAHP etc) was classed as unemployed, the current unemployment rate would be many times higher than it is.

[Changeagain1]

Unless a parent tells there child what FSM background is how would the other children know what it means?
I’ve never asked my child who gets FSM and she never asked as she has no idea? it’s none of our business 🤷‍♀️
I was on FSM when I was younger but I lived in a high poverty area so was in the majority - interestingly because more of us had hot dinners anyway even the children not on FSM opted for school dinners & no obvious difference in how the dinners purchased.

[HunterHearstHelmsley]

This is how it's always been. We were entitled to FSM but didn't have them as my mum would rather people didn't know. That's why universal meals were introduced in the first place.

[june2007]

Who cares about FSM my daughter was entitled to them at one stage were not any more, but I didn,t feel embarrassed when we were and neither was she ever picked on. I don,t remember kids at school getting picked on either.

[drspouse]

My DD is in KS1 so has UFSM but for KS2 at her school they will be giving everyone a single veggie choice of school meals. They are encouraging everyone to have school meals (in the dining hall, but quick service - hence one option only) if they possibly can. Hence no singling out.

[TulipsAndLilacs]

You are right op. It's not ok to make it obvious who is on benefits and there are lots of people in this country who are judgemental of people on benefits sadly

[jessstan2]

@TulipsAndLilacs

You are right op. It's not ok to make it obvious who is on benefits and there are lots of people in this country who are judgemental of people on benefits sadly

That!

Nobody should know or care; however we all know life isn't like that.

In the op's place I'd give my child a couple of sandwiches and an apple or something like, the sort of thing people have if they don't like school dinners.

In Scotland kids have free school meals up to a certain age; I wish that was the case here and would have no problem with paying a bit more tax towards that.

[BluebellsGreenbells]

In the op's place I'd give my child a couple of sandwiches and an apple or something like

OPs child doesn’t have free meals. She’s concern for the other children and intends telling the head teacher how to do her job, with Covid meaning FSM students are singled out.

[passthemustard]

Sounds like the school need to get with the times. Our primary has changed to ordering online in advance for everyone who has school meals. (We used to pay online and the kids ordered at morning register). Either way no one knew if it was FSM or paid for school meals.

I actually think children don't care if the meals are paid for or not. None of my four children have ever mentioned to me that such and such has FSM or anything of the sort.

[jessstan2]

@BluebellsGreenbells

In the op's place I'd give my child a couple of sandwiches and an apple or something like

OPs child doesn’t have free meals. She’s concern for the other children and intends telling the head teacher how to do her job, with Covid meaning FSM students are singled out.

Oh gosh yes, I remember now. Sorry op.