Free School Meals

Just about to be a surprising receipant, well my daughter not me! Wasn't aware of this until recently.  I think the idea in principle is sound, although looking at the menu, I'm not that convinced the Jamie Oliver campaign had a lasting impact! Lots of treats and puddings.

We are lucky as our school is well prepared and already has full kitchen facilities. Can see the benefit for kids from poor backgrounds, ensuring they have a hot meal, but the cost must be huge to do a non means tested scheme for all. Isn't this kind of policy that got the country in hock in the first place?

I'm all for kids having a cooked lunch at school, providing it is nutritious and edible. It should be easy to fund as any cost element could be taken from the child benefit paid to the parent, so self funding if you like. For a lot of kids I'm guessing it might be the only decent meal of the day that they get. The difference from when I was at school and now, is that nowadays schools will have to take into account everyone's different dietary requirements. When I was a lad they just use to slap whatever on your plate and you ate it. Broad beans, butter beans and swede would make me gag and they still do, but school custard I knocked back by the gallon... 

I don't think it's fair that it's limited to 7 years of age.

There are plenty of kids, in the same school, up to the age of 10, whose Parents are just as 'poor' as the parents of 7 year old's

Agree with you, but then who pays for the extra intake?

Government is already stretched beyond its capacity and the benefit system needs a dramatic overhaul. 

Maybe once all the schools are up to speed and every child is getting the meal they have been promised the age could/will be increased.

I have a Governors meeting at a local school next week, part of that is being appraised of their new meal facility. Be interesting to hear how its taken off - will report back if i remember. 

'er Indoors works at my kids' Primary School as a Teaching Assistant/Learning Support/Open University Teacher Training...person!

Our boys are 8 and 10, school dinners cost us £20.00 per week.

Monday to Wednesday inclusive this week, i have taken a grand total of £40.00 on my Unit...and i say taken, not made.

'er Indoors gets £7.50 an hour, i would say we take home waaay less than a family sitting at home, doing nothing but watching Jeremy Kyle and it's often these families who get free school dinners.

...uhm, i have probably strayed off the topic here

Slightly more on topic...i seem to remember when i was at school (I'm 38) there used to be, and i got for a while, something called a 'dinner ticket' which you presented at dinner time and got your lunch for free.

Don't know what the criteria was and i know i didn't get it forever but it existed.

Surely, if you have children, it is your responsibility to feed them.

Yes it is, and i'm sure that good parents do.