Universal Infants Free School Meals

My biggest problem with them withdrawing the universal FSM in infants is that the families/children that will be hardest hit are the working poor. Those that work enough to get WTC, as they don't qualify for FSM, yet their tax credits are going to be reduced quite a bit. So not only are they losing out money, but now many will be struggling to pay for school lunches or packed lunches that previously were free and took a bit of the stress off of their budgets.

It's just another example of how this government is actually penalising those that are trying to work to get ahead but still struggling.

My GS has just started school and seems to be thoroughly enjoying his lunches. He even brought home a menu of meals he can choose from in the next month.

60 years ago we had stew with revolting white butter beans in it. And stodge for pudding which was similar to industrial strength cardboard.

I agree 100% with Anya.

rosequartz My husband was a student nurse when we had our first child and I didn't take on a permanent job (only intermittent agency work) until our daughter was around 2. We were on a very low income but we always ate properly. However, things are very different now from the 60's/70's. Housing, transport and utility costs are much higher now than then and wages for the lowest paid have actually gone into decline. Currently, the "average" family on an "average" income is struggling, but families who have incomes well below the average are struggling so much that they are often going without food for part of the week or getting by on milk and cereal.

Bad nutrition in children leads to impaired growth, more health problems and poor concentration, and has a significant effect on performance and achievement. Children's health and happiness and the opportunity for them to reach their full potential must surely be worth the extra cost involved.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/107913

Over 6000 signatures already.

A teacher told me that at her school in Northumberland they are timetabling breakfast club, so nobody gets left out.

I don't understand that last post.

Breakfast Clubs are nothing new. They have been running for well over a decade now and offer before school childcare for parents, often with a simple breakfast (cereal, toast, juice) included. Parents pay various rates for this depending on the school policy. It was possible once, to access NOF funding to buy essential equipment (fridge, toaster, etc.) but this funding stream has now dried up.

PS Many schools also offer 'buttered' toast at morning break (10p a slice at GC's schools) and turn a blind eye to those who have 'forgotten' their money (ie they get their slice anyway)

Breakfast clubs are usually extra, before the school timetable starts. At this school it is taking place for everybody as part of the school timetable. Do you understand that?

Oh Anya, turning a blind eye to those who have "forgotten" makes me feel we have gone back to the days of the books I used when I was young and they were set in the early 1900s. I am so glad they can help in this way but do wonder where all this is going to take us.

Who is funding that I wonder Durhamjen ?

Didn't ask, Nina. I'll ask next time I see her.

used to read not used - time for bed

The quality of the food offered last year was poor. The quality this year is much better... except ds is no longer eligible. Murphy strikes again.

it is also a poor indication of the way things are that the school meals are an improvement for a lot of children on their previous diet.

and yes, I agree with a poster above that it is the people who are just above the threshold for fsm that will suffer.

I hope the free meals for infants can continue, in some areas anyway.
I used to to work in a primary school in a deprived area of Hull, and we had to sit and eat with the children, teach them how to use knife and fork etc. It does entail a bigger commitment from the school staff as well.

I find it hard to believe that every child in any school is in need of a breakfast. A greater or less percentage depending on tne level of deprivation is reasonable to assume. Having worked in schools in one of the most deprived areas of the country I think parents might be rather annoyed if their child was missing schooling and being offered a second breakfast instead of a Maths lesson, for example. Also the implication that poor parents are unable to offer their child a piece of toast at least for breakfast is insulting to the parents I knew who put their child's needs before their own.

But we do have to consider the needs of the child who's parents would rather spend on cigarettes than food. Or who CBA to get up and see their child fed in the morning. There may not be many of these but they do exist.

Far better IMO to offer everyone the chance of a free slice or two of toast and a glass of milk at break time instead - less disruptive and easier to organise.

Anya makes some good points.

Bring back school milk!

PS My GC attend three different schools. Each of them is offered a choice of fruit to the children every day, even the 9-year old. I know this is going away from FSM but I'd be interested to know if this is a universal practice. I only found out by accident as my youngest GS had secreted his apple in his reading bag the other day "to eat later".

When questioned all the other GC agreed there was a bowl of fruit on offer, in the classroom, from which they could help themselves and this had been the case last year too.

I know it was a feature of the 'Healthy Schools' agenda when I worked with schools and was pleased this was still going.

Local primary here has "fruit break" mid morning which is provided by the school (through government funding), and milk (which is paid by parents once the child reaches the age of 5).

Ds1's school has a fruit/veg break, and parents are supposed to send in something for their child to eat. Ds1 usually brings cut up veg or occasionally fruit.

I would personally love to see FSM available to all children. Parents could have the option to opt out and send packed lunches if they want. And then there is no stigma attached to the FSM, and children of all ages that have parents struggling with finances will at the very least get one hot meal during the day.

DD's twins started school this September and the free school meals have been an absolute godsend. At pre- school they took a packed lunch which,more often than not, came home barely eaten. By all accounts, according to the helpers, they are doing well with their school dinners. The cost for the two would be £80 per month. DD is a single mum, earning enough not to qualify for help, but still having to watch the pennies.

Re fruit breaks,. The twins have one fruit and milk break provided by school and have to provide a healthy snack for the other break.

dd goes to a church school. One where you have to make extra effort to get in, so one would presume that parents are slightly more engaged with their child's education. there was a shocking percentage of children who did not have breakfast before school. breakfast eating dd was in the minority.

The fruit which is provided for break-time at DGD's school has to be paid for, not sure how much it is, £2 per week I think (Wales, not England, so I'm not sure about English schools).
So DIL gives DGD a piece of fruit for break as well as one in her lunchbox as it's cheaper to do that.

BUT it sometimes comes home again, a bit worse for wear!

rosequartz

If I'm there when she comes home, I'll eat it (waste not, want not)