Can school force my child to stay in during lunchtime

Zazen999

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

I have never heard of this happening before Both of my kids are in primary school and are allowed packed lunches. I couldn't afford school dinners as would cost me £17 a week and we are not lucky enough to qualify for free school meals.

I don't think being in the position to qualify for free school meals is 'lucky' - maybe that's just me?

Hmmmm.......

JBD

juliescot wrote: »

Pleased to see that some teachers do get involved.

The two biggest schools in my immediate area let the children out at lunchtime with no supervision whatsoever. Both schools have a small row of shops near them which effectively become no go areas during lunch as there are several hundred (yes I do mean that) kids hanging about eating snacks and dropping litter. I am not suggesting that there is any great malice in this just a lack of respect for others.

This lack of respect is sadly not confined to children.

Yes, my son's school does encourage a lot of involvement with the local community. IMO this does improve things all around. I agree, the teachers should at least keep an eye on the children at the local shops. After all, they would have to supervise them if they were in the playground.

I agree with your last point. It is so important [to me at least] to be a good role model to younger people. I have always taught my children not to drop litter, to hold doors open,etc, then they go out and see some older people do the exact opposite.

Reggie_Rebel

The 'no packed lunch' rule is stupid. The 'stay in school' rule is good.

Pick your fight wisely OP, and make sure you have the full facts, as you yourself said he is very outspoken. That's usually parent speak for 'knows better than the rest of the world"

Rummer

I am very surprised about the fact that they do not allow packed lunches, it is very strange! I know it would be a pain but could his gran collect him from the school office at lunch time and that way he is leaving in the company of an adult? I doubt they would be able to prevent this as long as he was present during lessons.

juliescot

How is the OP doing with this issue then?

Lunar_Eclipse

JBD wrote: »

IRL many parents cannot afford school meals.

I agree.

But there are many more who actually don't want to pay for them as opposed to actually not being able to afford them (as a priority) out of their household income. I would fall into the latter category, but would never say I can't afford them since that is simply not the case (personally). My children do have school dinners at their request and enjoy having them. They have a good selection of food, a huge improvement from the 'shipped in' lunches from their infant school days and supposedly better than at the senior school. But it does add up financially.

I didn't realise the income threshold was so low for receiving free school meals (someone posted 6k), so that may not be an option for the OP.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

We earn more than the boundary, but certainly could not afford school dinners for our DD. Hence why she'll be getting a packed lunch....we are lucky at the mo as her nursery are packed lunch only...i can only pray this ban is not in her school when she starts next sept.

It costs us about £7 if that a week to feed her a healthy packed lunch ( i must admit she gets quite a big lunch for a little lady, but two chances of eating the contents at nursery as they have snack times too). Consists of a squash mix in her bottle, cheese sandwich, laughing cow breadstick and dip thing, a peice of fruit (small kiddie banana usually) and some slices of cucumber - maybe a mini apple pie or two shortbread rounds if we have them in too. They'd get a plate of something i prob wouldn't agree with (chips and beans and nuggets or something a day) and a pudding for more than double what we pay a week. That's just an example of what i mean by the packed lunched are more worth while It's sad to see this gradual banning of packed lunches, but it seems to be rolling out in more and more schools

JBD

I agree, this is totally removing choice from parents on how to feed their children and how to arrange their own food budgets. When my 2nd son started infants he tried school dinners but his teacher told me he was only eating the bread and butter. Naturally I stopped his school meals immediately and gave him packed lunches. Noone in their right mind is going to pay £1.50 a day for a slice of bread and butter. I suppose under these rules I would have been forced to. What are they going to do if the child refuses to eat, force feed them?

juliescot

juliescot wrote: »

Wonder how the OP is getting on with the issues raised?

Busy arguing with the Head/Governors/LEA at the moment perhaps?

silvercar

What are they going to do if the child refuses to eat, force feed them?

The child is year 11, if he's hungry he'll eat, if not he'll wait till he leaves school; he won't starve.

I posted a link earlier on this thread where the DfES had said it was upto the head of each school to decide whether children can leave. If the head has that decision, there is little point going overboard.