Would it be acceptable to use free school meals for drinks only?

[User3627282646322244]

Free school meals but buying a drink only.

dd has just started secondary school and under the new FSM rules, she can now get free school lunches as we get UC as a top up, as can my son who’s year 11. Always paid before.

for context, my partner works, I don’t, both children have SEN, get DLA etc. this is the first time we’ve been eligible for free lunches.

I am sure it will be very helpful for ds but dd does not want to eat the food though. Although not officially diagnosed I believe she has emetophobia as well as anxiety, autism etc and over the last 12 months food has become more and more of a problem with her. Not wanting to eat at school, limited diet - this has increased with age whereas my son’s eating has got better with age. dd now takes a pack lunch with some safe foods.

however, she’s expressed that she may want to buy a drink at school - she does get really thirsty. I find it crazy how it’s water only at primary then at secondary they have a huge selection of drinks! She will drink water but it’s still warm.

will it be frowned upon if her FSM balance will just be used on drinks?

obviously it’s for food but she won’t eat it. She’s also gone through phases of not drinking at school, worried about needing the toilet - so if she drinks something at school it’s a win imo.

the school aren’t very forthcoming when it comes to answering questions about it.

I don’t need to see evidence of your Daughter’s diagnoses!

But given she does have all these diagnoses - you need to be on at the school day in and day out to get more support.

She started a week ago? So be pursuing this from the start

Your DD is entitled to FSM. What she uses it for is not anyone's business except your DD, the school and you.

I don’t think you can conclude the school is disinterested after only a few days of knowing her

she has an EHCP and nothing has been discussed?

Not even the school! It is entirely the dd and her parent’s business

A fair few years ago my cousin used to spend his FSM allowance on a pasty and fizzy drinks. Aunt moaned but I pointed out he had enough for the set meal, not that I considered anything they served edible.

You are right it is hard, childrens mental health services is a lottery, .i hope you get somewhere, dont worry about her just buying a drink nobody will stop her.

If the school were concerned they have a duty to inform the parent. If, for example, a student was giving food away it might be due to bullying.

Entirely different scenario.

Our school doesn't allow you to do that. You get an allowance each day & can get one drink as part of a meal deal. No buying just drinks or cakes. Depends on how strict your school is at following the guidelines.

Not sure why you are even asking about this tbh, it's almost like you want to make sure you use your freebie. Surely you would give her money for a drink anyway if she wants one?

How many drinks would the allowance buy her in a day?

If the school limit it to a meal deal (often to avoid the Y7s in particular going mad on pastries and drinks), she can pick a sandwich and something else with the drink and bring it home with no pressure to eat it. She might decide that she wants to try it in the meantime that way.

Of course I would. I topped up on my son’s first day not knowing about the free lunch but it caused issues. As he also had FSM balance

Started Monday! So only had 3 days and I’m in regular contact with senco.

oh yeah or of . The senco is really good at new school. I was talking more when she was in primary going forward towards secondary!

So after 3 days I don’t think you can conclude the school is disinterested! And if this school do appear better, then have a word with them. I don’t think they’ll say they’ll be any issue with it as long as she is getting food from somewhere!

How many drinks would it buy her? And you’ll send her in with a packed lunch presumably?

She can spend her FSM allowance on whatever she likes as it will appear daily on her lunch card/account. Better to be buying a drink than nothing and if she has autonomy over her purchases in the canteen, she might eventually choose to try something else. It will probably be a cake. School kids consumes cakes at lunchtime like gannets.

I’d be surprised if schools sold drinks, usually sugar or mock sugar. They didn’t sell them when my kids went.

At my son’s school they get £3 per day and can spend it on whatever they want, whenever they want. If parents want to set limits, then they can contact the school and it can be done eg only spending at lunchtime etc. The canteen sells water, tea, coffee, milkshakes, juice and fizzy water. Anything left from the £3 disappears at the end of the day and doesn’t roll over like parent added money.

They can buy what they like with the FSM fund. My AuDHD child rarely used it as found the dining room too much. A drink was very occasionally bought as she didn’t want to go to the toilet at school. She doesn’t like eating in front of other people and as the school toilets were full of bullies and vapers, she would wait to eat and drink at home. No one said anything about her FSM use. She only spent about 5% of what she was awarded.