Are thye allowed to not let my son eat some of his packed lunch?

[jellyjelly]

My son was told today at lunch that he was unable to eat his chocolate custard and two jaffa cakes. Its the first time but i think its a bit wrong.

Advice please and not about giving him things.

Under the Government's obesity strategy, all schools will be expected to design a "healthy lunchbox policy" on what makes a nutritional packed lunch over the next year. www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-509972/Teachers-ordered-police-childrens-lunchboxes.html

I am on our senior management team. I tell you this would be absolutely to do with me!

before you go in there with both guns firing, I would seriously try and get the proper story from the teacher.

At that age they are OH so likely to get the wrong end of the stick.

It may be that he had run out of time (v common) or they were not sure whether those were nut free products or something else yadda yadda. I would just check first as even my older kids still get some stuff that teachers tell them wrong!

Stick to 'ill-informed heads and deputies/management' if you don't want to offend us lesser mortals on mn please!

MaloryDontDiveItsShallow do you think the senior management team has nothing better to do with their time than wonder if little Johnny has chocolate in his lunchbox? Schools are following orders from above. There are lots of things we don't personally agree with.

My son is not overweight, never has been. He now eats well. If he wants to stop eating not eat things thats fine but he told me that he was told by teachers that he was not allowed to eat it. End of, not that he run out of time however wellbeing people think they are by suggesting that, that is not the case.

On a recent Childminders course for implementing the new Early Years Foundation Stage (birth to five), our trainer suggested that if someone sent their child to us with an unhealthy lunchbox, we should confiscate it, and give something healthy. Then tell the parent that we REFUSE to give this kind of lunch and to only send healthy ones in future.

I would NEVER do this. I MAY make hints about healthy foods that the child has tried and liked, I might send all parents some info about healthy lunchboxes, and say that it's something we are passing on to all parents. I would never take food away, I think it's patronising and just disrespectful.

LOW fat cheese/yoghurts

I agree with the people that have said about healthy eating "regimes" being actually unhealthy, of course the food they suggest is "healthy" but it is more useful imo to encourage an attitude of appreciating ALL foods, and to learn about eating a balanced diets. Labelling certain foods as forbidden and bad, surely just makes them more desirable?

"As part of the Government?s approach to reducing childhood obesity
A Cross Government Strategy for England, Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives was launched in January 2008. This strategy outlines an expectation on all schools.

To promote a culture of healthy eating the government now expects all schools ? in consultation with parents, pupils and staff to adopt whole school food policies. In particular, schools will be expected to:

? develop healthy packed lunch policies, so that those not yet taking up school lunches are also eating healthier."

I'm on the SMT and have better things to do than worry about what type of cup or the contents of a lunchbox

Our school say no chocolate, but allow chocolate bars like Mars, Snickers etc. I hide 2 squares of cadbury's in her lunch as I'd rather she had that.

Sorry Mrz but thats crap, if the Government was giving orders it would be to all schools and not just a selected few
My girls have packed lunch usually with sarnies, fruit, crisps, yoghurt and a chocolate bar. The school is part of the Healthy School Programme too

As usual, I agree with Tutter and Piffle. I'd be livid if this was my child.

Please credit us with the intelligence and responsibility to provide our children with lunch without having to police us.

And the low fat stuff just makes me . The school dinner menu at my kids school is sprinkled with such shite.

Yes malory, the whole thing is naive. They are clutching at straws as far as our children's health is concerned.

Get them moving. Make exercise a priority. Teach them how to cook.

I have a dd with low weight gain due her noonan syndrome and a heart condition.
Anyone recommending lowfat without dietetic advice is dangerous.

Our school has a healthy eating policy and has just 'recommended' that packed lunches should contain a balanced meal. Sweets, nuts and sugary or fizzy drinks aren't allowed but, as far as I know, nothing is ever confiscated from the children. If children always bring an unhealthy meal - and we've also had children bring a lunch consisting of nothing but crisps and biscuits - the school might contact the parents.

ceolas - I think most people should be credited with the sense to send a decent lunch, but what about the people previously mentioned who packed two packets of crisps and two fruit shoots? They shouldnt be credited with knowing how to pack nutricious (sp?) for their child imo.

If the child had just run out of time, wouldnt the dinner ladies have sent the food home again in the lunch box? Not taken it away?

Did they take it away? I missed that bit

But are these nutters not sending the crap even with the rules? What do they do then? Confiscate the whole lot? What does the child eat?