There's been a whole lot of discussion since the government announced it's plans yesterday to provide free school dinners for children in infant school. People seem to be in two firm camps - those who think it's a great idea and those who don't. Right now I sit in the latter.
Now don't get me wrong, I wholeheartedly support free school meals being given to those who need them and I'm not stupid, I realise there are a lot of people out there struggling right now. I wouldn't want to see anyone go without and free school meals could save £400 per child per year. That's quite a saving. People on low incomes should absolutely have access to free school meals.
What I have issue with is the blanket coverage of this. To provide free school meals for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 is going to cost A LOT and that money has to come from somewhere. Don't kid yourself that these are "free" because they're not - after all, there's no such thing as a free lunch. These meals are going to be provided to a lot of families who don't need financial support and I can't help but feel that our schools are struggling in other areas - like lack of SEN support and teaching assistants. All too often schools are turning to parent volunteers to fill the gaps.
Of course there already is access to free school meals. You can apply for free school meals if you receive any of the following;
- Income support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you're not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
And there-in lies an obvious point - the limit of £16,190 is WAY too low. Many people will still be living a hand-to-mouth existence on a much higher household income. Would it not be better to raise the limit and direct the other monies, from those who don't really need it, to worthier causes within our school? A good meal can go so far but without adequate teaching staff, materials and facilities our children are still going to be at a disadvantage. I don't dispute that there have been trials and studies that show good results in terms of concentration and better academic results - I think everybody should be able to eat a good lunch and it's important to our well-being.
Of course, there's a massive stigma attached to being a FSM child, and I think most schools measure the attainment of FSM as a separate group, which only makes it worse in my eyes. What a sweeping generalisation. A low-income is not always a choice. There are ways however of not singling these children out in school and making it obvious they are a "FSM child".
If the plan, as stated, is aimed to boost the health of our children and the uptake of school dinners, then they really need to be improved. The dire state of school dinners has been widely publicised and moves have been made to improve them but having sampled them myself recently, I found them nothing more than bland and unappetising, and I'd say our school tries quite hard! Surely if they were interesting, imaginative and tasty more people might be willing to give them a go?
This week on our school menu - pork loin, breaded pollack, macaroni cheese, spaghetti bolognese, pork meatballs, pork sausage, chicken pie, fish fingers, pizza and tomato & basil pasta. Desserts are fruit shortbread, fruit iced smoothie, milkshakes, apple crumble, pineapple upside down pudding and ice-cream sponge roll. Hardly exciting and inspiring.
And what about the KS2 children that belong to struggling families? Do they go hungry, just lump it? or are the already struggling families now going to feel like they have to pay the price for school dinners for their other children too? School dinners aren't cheap compared to what you can provide in a packed lunch yourself. KS2 is tougher mentally and physically on children - is it not just as important or even more important that these children also have access to a good nutritious meal?
There's a whole part of me (I never said I wasn't a cynic) that thinks this is just one step closer to banning packed lunches in school. Which is something I really would be upset about - there's more healthy food in my children's lunch-boxes than there are in school dinners I would imagine!
As you can see - I agree something needs to be done but I disagree with it being provided for all - when not everyone needs it.
Where do you sit on this issue? I'd be interested to hear your views.
I don't understand why packed lunches would be banned. More and more children have allergies (not mine thankfully) so how will schools cater for that? Also how will they cater for fussy eaters? My son has just started reception (1/2 days). The class have a snack as part of the day. G came home and told me that they has apple and he said "no thank you" . He is soooo fussy about fruit but I know what he will and won't eat. For example, he will drink fruit juice by the gallon but would rather eat his own arm than a grape! I'm glad Wales isn't affected at present
ReplyDeleteam with you on all scores. Blanket coverage is just wrong. Equally it is difficult to avoid the stigma - but at ds old school they had a pay card system - those with free school dinner entitlement had that credited on their cards, those who wanted school dinners paid cash each morning (or whenever) and all the kids had the same card, so come lunchtime, no one knew. The dinners were really good quality too and freshly cooked on the premises, but if packed lunches were wanted, they could be brought in as well - but there were very strict restrictions on what could be in it - no sweets, biscuits or cake - had to contain a piece of fruit and or veggie - meant that most opted for dinners because it was easier but they all got a good meal which helped concentration in the afternoon.
ReplyDeleteAFAICS it's nothing more than a political appeaser designed to get those fence sitting voters to sit up and take the view that those Lib Dems aren't such a bad lot after all.
ReplyDeleteNot an ounce of thought has gone into the policy before announcing it, what about those schools without kitchens or students with allergies?
A completely cynical PR policy designed to help the failing Lib Dems and their hugely unpopular party leader not to suffer annihilation at the next election.
In any event if the Lib Dems go into coalition with the tory party I guarantee this policy will go down the same toilet as the promise to not raise student uni fees.
Free school meals are a life saver for lots of children.... but I don't think everyone needs them, nor do I think everyone should be forced to have them. My children always had rather healthy lunchboxes and I liked monitoring their food by monitoring their waste in the lunchbox! I'm hoping this doesn't happen. I'd rather put the money into other areas of schooling, like people and resources.
ReplyDeleteI'm torn. While I understand that not all people who should have free school meals take them up because of stigma or parents not knowing to apply and while I also know that many parents struggle with making a sandwich (if prepacked sandwich sales during school terms are anything to go by), I don't want this for my child. I can cook, I understand nutrition and I can provide more interesting food for my son than any canteen will. Cooking is my way of showing I love him so it's a big deal if this is taken away from me.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I think should be provided in all schools is chilled storage for packed lunches. It's ridiculous schools don't provide this regularly because it's such a food poisoning risk. You absolutely must use ice blocks if your school doesn't provide chilled storage.
You know if you don't provide fridge storage for staff in food factories to store their food, the retailers would tell you to put it in place and if you didn't they'd tell you this is a risk of making your staff ill, yet we don't do it for kids???
I agree about raising the limit, and also as Julie suggests implementing meal cards so there's no stigma. As a vegetarian I would never eat school meals, there was no variation at all, and now I'm vegan there'd be no hope! I also worried about it being a step towards banning packed lunches, which would be a terrible idea.
ReplyDeleteIt's at times like this that I am so glad that we have chosen not to send our children to school. My children are not fussy, nor do they need a special diet however I have seen the menu at our village school and it is awful, not what I would want to be eating. My understanding is that these meals will only be free to all for a year and then those that can afford it will be expected to pay. It's a way of getting more children to like school dinners and have them on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteMy son has just started nursery but will be at school next year, he currently takes a packed lunch with hi
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