Another thing DS can't cope with at secondary - the canteen

[RaisingSteam]

I'm new to this board but I think I'm going to take up residence.

DS1 has started secondary school, he's struggling massively and unexpectedly and I'm trying to chase up an assessment for dyspraxia but really goodness knows what the problem/s might be. He's adopted and has some insecure attachment issues too.

However one thing is he is really not managing to feed himself during the day. I downloaded the canteen list (it's a biometric system) - despite repeated reminders, many days he is eating nothing, or just cakes and Yazoo milkshakes/Drench drinks. Some days he misses breakfast as he just will not get out of bed and the bus is very early. What this is doing to his concentration/wellbeing when he's already struggling can't be good. He's started putting on weight (I guess that might be preteen filling out).

Has anyone had similar - did you just resort to packed lunch? I know he struggles with the canteen queue (no friends to wait with) and tends to resort to the tuck shop.

Dis has this with niece the school have identified it as an issue and have put support in place ( I think buddy and mailing home menus ( dniece couldn't cope with choice in canteen environment) )

Speak to the school

Packed lunch here too before we stated home ed.

Dd3 had a pass to go into the canteen without having to queue but she couldnt use it.

Would he eat some mixed fruit or breakfast bars or something on the bus and have a carton on juice?

Dont underestimate how difficult the transition into secondary is for some children. You might need to contact the pastoral team and get someone to check in with him during the day sometimes.

Good luck and stick around

Thanks, I will add it to the long list of things I am liaising with the pastoral team about. I have repeatedly asked for a buddy to do lunch with him a few times but they don't seem to be able to mobilise anyone, I'm not sure these so called "buddies" and "peer mentors" exist but I guess it's a lot to ask of a Y9 with their own things to do.

Dd3 had peer mentors for homework club, they were great because they just did it for her!

In terms of mentoring her to help her with anxiety then they were most definitely not the right people! One of the reasons her placement failed was the schools inability to understand that sometimes trained adults are the only way to support children with some kinds of difficulties.