Lunch timings

[Bagpuss2022]

Not much I can do but a little moan and to ask if any other high schools do this,

My DD is y7 she starts at 8.45 break is 11.30 for 10 minutes no chance of grabbing anything from canteen in that time so usually a piece of fruit/bag of crisps etc
linch isn’t until 1.45 for 30 minutes whilst that is a late lunch in my opinion they start afternoon class at 2.15 then finish for the day at 2.45 how bizzare so after lunch half a hour lesson then home time,

my DD has a medical condition that she needs to eat regular and substantial meals to ensure her medication works if not it can become very serious. we have managed this year but have been a few close calls I just think the schools timetabling is off whack

That is really weird timetabling I agree. I don’t understand why she can’t take something more substantial with her for her break at 11.30 though? A banana and piece of flapjack? Would be better and more sustaining than crisps.

Those times do seem quite bizarre.

Can she eat something more substantial during her break? Croissant, sandwich taken in with her?

Schools in my area have this system of a late lunch then a theory minute tutorial at the end of the day. It's linked to the theory that children are more alert and open to learning prior to lunch. I think it's rubbish, reduced opportunity for socialising but schools see it as reduced opportunity for any issues over the break time.

It's certainly a weird timing for the school day.

DS's lunch break doesn't finish until 2pm but his school day goes on until 4pm. He also needs to eat at regular intervals and fits in snacks between lessons and at morning break. He's allowed to take food/drinks into exams though is in a seperate room as he has to have rest breaks too.

Bizarre timings.
Ours start at 8.55
Break at 10.15 until 10.30
Lunch at 12.30 until 1.15
Finish at 3.45
(On a Friday they finish at 12.30)

She can and does take more substantial snacks it’s her choice what to eat and doesn’t want to be different from her friends and 10 minutes to eat and to get to outside court area only area apart from canteen they are allowed to eat.

She brings a packed lunch rammed with food she tried eating in the canteen the first week it was a no go by time she got it wasn’t enough time to finish it.

I have much older boys and they attended the same school but lunch was normal at 12.30-12.45

like I said nothing much I can do but glad other people think it’s weird timetabling maybe it is because of behaviour but I have never heard anything significant in that regard

Maybe raise it with the school and ask for clarification as to why they do it that way. It could be that when she's moved up to next year it'll change to something more normal.

In the meantime just stress to her that she really has to make time to eat something filling due to her meds- irrespective of what her mates are eating!

I think she needs to accept she needs to eat what she needs to eat. I get not wanting to be different from her peers but she needs to prioritise her health.

can her schedule at home for eating be changed to fall in line with what she needs so her body is used to that timetable? If necessary can she leave the lesson before break 5 minutes early to get a bit longer to eat?

Is it a staggered lunchtime? I doubt theyre getting the whole school through the canteen in 30 minutes, so you may find lunch is at a different time for different year groups.
It would be a reasonable adjustment for her to be allowed to leave the lesson before break early to get a bit longer to eat, but I take your point about her wanting to be with her mates. Usually schools with a late lunchtime do have a 20 minute break which gives time for them to eat a bit more then. Look at what you can give her as a break-time snack which will sustain her. Mine usually eats a (cold) hot cross bun at break, which keeps her going.