Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Original poster

Stupid question!!

28 replies

CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 15/12/2023 16:05

DD1 is in reception and I've just had an email about a Christmas party next week during the school day. They've requested we send in "a small plate of food with your child's name on it".

Do they mean send in a bit of party food/a couple of snacks? Do I need an actual plate? How does the food stay on the plate while being transported into school? Am I being a bit thick here?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
FilippityFiloppity · 15/12/2023 16:06

Yes to a plate. Paper plate or similar fine. Cling film or foil to keep stuff on it.

As to what they want on it, you’ll have to ask! Is it for sharing or just for her?

Octavia64 · 15/12/2023 16:08

Paper plate with foil or cling film over.

Probably for your child but they'll swop food, they always do.

Not proper food, party food.

SENparenting · 15/12/2023 16:10

Strong disposable plate with foil over, write name on it - add cocktail sausages, party rings, hoola hoops, fairy cake. Done!

escapethemaze · 15/12/2023 16:12

are you on ten class whatsapp group?

sort of thing that will dominate discussion for the next 48 hours!

Pipistrellus · 15/12/2023 16:12

So every parent has to buy a pack of plates to use one?

ChainBastard · 15/12/2023 16:13

It sounds like they want a filled plate so the children aren't sharing food, or so they don't have high levels of waste. Choose some things your child would like put it on a paper or plastic plate, cover in foil or cling film and send it in.

It's a really clever idea, I may suggest it in my school. What we usually do is ask half the class to bring in something savoury, and the other half something sweet. They run round like mad things at the party then sit down and we go around them with bags/boxes of food with them choosing what they like. It's preferable to a buffet style free for all but still pretty chaotic, and there's always loads left over. Unopened stuff gets donated to the food bank (because we can't keep track of 90 packs of pringles and give them all back to the right child) but there's always one or two children who bring in something they really like and want opened and then they're the only one who wants it!

Pipistrellus · 15/12/2023 16:14

Surely it must mean a plate of one thing to share? Otherwise you'd be buying multiple different foods to get a few bites of each. I would send a camping or children's melamine plate.

Original poster
CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 15/12/2023 17:43

Pipistrellus · 15/12/2023 16:12

So every parent has to buy a pack of plates to use one?

That's what I was wondering. I don't really have a need for a pack of paper plates. But I suppose no one will mind if it's a Tupperware box.

I didn't read the email like it was asking for stuff to share, just because it's individual plates, but maybe that isn't right. There isn't a class WhatsApp unfortunately.

I know it's not a really important issue. Just didn't want to send the wrong thing!

OP posts:
thebookeatinggirl · 15/12/2023 17:43

My children's school did this. It was to save having MOUNTAINS of food sent in for staff to spend ages sharing out and plating up, all the while making sure that the various allergies were catered for correctly.

It's much easier and more sensible to ask each child to bring in a small selection of snacky food for themselves to eat, on a covered plate, or in a plastic tub. A few crisps, a biscuit and some grapes - not much is needed.

MadeOfAllWork · 15/12/2023 17:46

Makes a lot of sense really. Otherwise you get far too much food sent in, all the children eat too much, the parents don’t know what they’ve had and it’s very tricky for allergies.

I would say that anything that isn’t going to get broken would be ok.

Pipistrellus · 15/12/2023 18:08

Maybe the name on the plate is just for returning purposes? An individual plate for a child just sounds like a packed lunch to me, why not say that?

MadeOfAllWork · 15/12/2023 18:17

Pipistrellus · 15/12/2023 18:08

Maybe the name on the plate is just for returning purposes? An individual plate for a child just sounds like a packed lunch to me, why not say that?

Edited

But a packed lunch would be lunch sized and involve sandwiches and yoghurt etc. This is smaller and is fun stuff like biscuits and crisps.

Original poster
CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 15/12/2023 18:26

Pipistrellus · 15/12/2023 18:08

Maybe the name on the plate is just for returning purposes? An individual plate for a child just sounds like a packed lunch to me, why not say that?

Edited

I don't think it's lunch, I've ordered lunch through the normal school dinner system. I assume they'd make it clear if it was a full meal I needed to send in.

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 15/12/2023 18:28

Paper plate with food for your own DC.
Named so they eat their own stuff.
(I used to do things like party rings that we didn't usually have.)

Pipistrellus · 15/12/2023 18:40

Wouldn't individual party food mean buying multiple party foods to give a small amount of each rather than one thing to share though.

TeenDivided · 15/12/2023 18:52

Pipistrellus · 15/12/2023 18:40

Wouldn't individual party food mean buying multiple party foods to give a small amount of each rather than one thing to share though.

We bought things DD liked and then left over things got eaten at home in the following week.
Or you could team up with another parent?

Original poster
CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 15/12/2023 19:01

I don't mind the idea, it's Christmas so we'll have party type food anyway.

I'm not complaining

OP posts:
Original poster
CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 15/12/2023 19:01

Pressed post too soon!

I'm not complaining about the idea, just wasnt sure what I needed to actually do when I read "send a plate of food"

OP posts:
Shelby1981 · 15/12/2023 19:07

Hmm not very clear - can you message on ClassDojo or similar or email and ask? Any parents who also have older children who would know?

Our school used to ask us to send in one sweet thing, one savoury and a drink - so eg. I'd send a pack of crisps, fruit shoot and small chocolate bar - in a named lunchbox/sandwich bag. But they did have lots of allergies.

This year (y3) they've said food is provided 🤷🏻‍♀️

Pipistrellus · 15/12/2023 19:08

I'm not complaining about the idea, just wasnt sure what I needed to actually do when I read "send a plate of food"

Until I read this thread I'd have just read that as the usual bring a plate to share without a second thought! The other way seems a bit crazy to me.

We have Christmas food put away that we will share with family at Christmas. I wouldn't want to open three different things now to provide party food for one child.

Elisheva · 15/12/2023 19:13

When DC1 first did this 12 years ago I sent a lovingly crafted, Christmas themed plate, with a selection of lovely food, cut up grapes, cubes of cheese, mini party rings etc.
Yesterday was DC3’s Christmas party. She took a pack of chocolate pretzels and a strawberry milkshake.

ManchesterLu · 15/12/2023 19:20

Pipistrellus · 15/12/2023 16:12

So every parent has to buy a pack of plates to use one?

When things like that have happened to me, I've had a wondrous time afterwards using the paper plates/cups where I haven't had to wash up. It's excellent.

wonderingwhatlifemeans · 15/12/2023 19:29

Since Covid we have done bags or boxes of snacks for individual children so a 'bring in snacks just for your child' message. This is also practical as so many classes have children with allergies so sharing just can't be done.

Justkeeprollingalong · 15/12/2023 20:39

Why not just ask the teacher?

Original poster
CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 15/12/2023 20:53

Justkeeprollingalong · 15/12/2023 20:39

Why not just ask the teacher?

It's not easy to speak to the teachers. Parents aren't allowed through the gate in the morning at drop off, and I don't really see them at the end of the day either.

They encourage you to book an appointment if you want to speak to them about anything but it's not a system that lends itself to quick questions.

OP posts: