Can school force my child to stay in during lunchtime

silvercar

Are we going round in circles?

For the DfES viewpoint:

a) an indication that the DfES thinks the head of each school can decide that all pupils have to remain on premises during the lunch hour in this article:


http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2006/11/30/310320/what-does-the-future-hold-for-school-meals.html

b) The DfES stating that a school can't insist that no outside food can be brought in:

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1007/1007640_mum_fights_lunch_ban.html

Both of which back up the consensus on this thread that a head should be able to impose a lock-in but that children should be allowed to bring in their own food.

shellsuit

In my eyes, this school and any other who won't allow a packed lunch, do it solely to gain money from school dinners bought.

They say they can't check packed lunches are healthy? No but they don't mind selling pop, pizza and chips etc to the children, what a bloody joke.

Schools now are interested in stats, numbers and money and don't seem to be interested in the pupils like they used to.

Just like football, what was once a sport is now a business.

It stinks if you ask me.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

I don't really know the legalities of this but it seems they are not enforced properly as after speaking to some friends some have mentioned that they have heard of this in a few nearby schools If you google it as well a few articles show up stating other schools have done the same. I suppose it's whether parents chose to contest it or not - i blimming would! But then the area in question we (my friends) have been talking about is a rather well off area so i suppose not many would be that bothered. Saying that though even if i was well off i'd still be bothered - at least with a packed lunch you know what your child is eating!

JBD

silvercar wrote: »

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.

Yes, the OP's son is in year 11. This is apparently happening to younger children as well. I agree, it probably won't do a 16 year old any harm to miss a meal but his Mum should not have to pay £3 for the privelege.

scotty1971

i agree the children shouldn't be forced to buy from the school canteen,but i think the children should be kept in school until they finish,because if anything ever happened to a child,say getting run over,we would all be blaming the school for not carrying out there duty of care for the children

JOANNESAPHINE

My daughter just started secondary school this September and they are not allowed to go out at lunchtime having to stay on the premises. Surely they can't make you have hot lunches, my daughter takes sarnies as the canteen meals would cost us £3 a day. What if your child was vegan for instance can they give the appropriate food for a child in that situation, seems crazy.

milliebear00001

Can I ask if this school is an Academy or an LEA controlled secondary school? Different rules apply to Academies, and they can suit themselves about LOTS of things that many parents are not aware of.

iamana1ias

JOANNESAPHINE wrote: »

My daughter just started secondary school this September and they are not allowed to go out at lunchtime having to stay on the premises. Surely they can't make you have hot lunches, my daughter takes sarnies as the canteen meals would cost us £3 a day. What if your child was vegan for instance can they give the appropriate food for a child in that situation, seems crazy.

Jacket potato, baked beans. Easy

shellsuit

iamana1ias wrote: »

Jacket potato, baked beans. Easy

But every school day of their school lives?

chirpchirp

The Op concerned me on a number of grounds, mainly the threat that was given to pupil. If the school want to enforce such a rule a threat of detention, suspension or expulsion may well be appropiate but in NO circumstances should a teacher ever threaten violence.

I think the OP should follow this up. Was this actually said? How was it said? I believe such a threat would be seen as a criminal offence by the police. If the head doesn't take this seriously, you have a number of ways you can approach this:

1. You can ignore it

2. You can take it further either through the education authority, first by head and governors and then through the LEA or you can write a letter to the professional body which governs teachers.

Unfortunatley, I think the school can insist that all children remain on the premises at lunchtime. However, it is not reasonable to expect all children to have a school lunch. Due to the fact that your son always went to his Granmother's house this would make an excellent public interest story for your local press. You may wish to contact your local newspaper and explain the whole situation to them.

However, if you take action outside of the school the school obviously won't be happy about this and I would be concerned as to how "professional" the rest of the staff would act towards your son. I think perhaps you should speak to your son and see how far he would like you to progress matters.