Shh we wont tell anyone (school)

spicyprawn

Hi guys and gals , just wanted to share this text I got from the school.

If you think you may be entitled to free school meals even if you do not want them please tell the school office so the school can get more money. We will not share this with anyone else.


What you you think?

Spicy

jackieglasgow

Sounds like,it was written by a child.

balletshoes

we had a letter home from my DDs school about this last year, its something to do with the school is entitled to more of a budget or something depending on how many kids there are at the school who are entitled to free school meals? Can't remember what it was all about as we don't qualify. Doesn't seem to be anything underhand about it - more a protection for kids/parents who don't want anyone else knowing they are entitled to free school meals.

globalds

Maybe it is because of this

Part of the ISB is delegated to meet the needs of pupils who have Special Educational Needs. The amount is allocated according to the school's pupils':

• eligibility for free school meals- 75% of the total funding is based on this factor

http://www.learningtrust.co.uk/special_needs/what_tlt_provides/school_funding.aspx

LandyAndy

balletshoes wrote: »

we had a letter home from my DDs school about this last year, its something to do with the school is entitled to more of a budget or something depending on how many kids there are at the school who are entitled to free school meals? Can't remember what it was all about as we don't qualify. Doesn't seem to be anything underhand about it - more a protection for kids/parents who don't want anyone else knowing they are entitled to free school meals.

I agree.

When I was in primary school in the 60s we all knew who the 'poor families' were because they didn't have to walk to the front of the class and hand over their half a crown on a Monday morning.

sammyjammy

balletshoes wrote: »

we had a letter home from my DDs school about this last year, its something to do with the school is entitled to more of a budget or something depending on how many kids there are at the school who are entitled to free school meals? Can't remember what it was all about as we don't qualify. Doesn't seem to be anything underhand about it - more a protection for kids/parents who don't want anyone else knowing they are entitled to free school meals.

I agree with balletshoes (love the name!), my sister is a primary school head in a deprived area and although they estimate 50% of their parents are entitled to free school meals only around 20% actually claim them.

Some people won't claim because they don't want people to know they are entitled. I don't really get that as so many people are claiming benefits of one kind or another and nobody is bothered by it. At scool I was envious of those that got free school means as we couldn't afford "dinners", I had jam sandwiches and a club biscuit LOL.

The school definitely gets more money the more children they have on free school meals which is much needed these days.

Kandboys

I also agree. Our school likes to protect those who would be entitled from any embarrassment. I live in a village with very varied housing. We have huge houses with very well to do people living in them plus we have council housing so the school children are from various incomed families. We are in the middle lol!

spicyprawn

Well thanks all! We are entitled to free school meals, I dont go shouting about it but I'm not embarrassed about it. I haven't applied for them because dd2 wants her lunch bag when she finally stays for dinner, plus I can see how much she has eaten. The children are all having a week of free hot dinners monday week and dd2 decided she liked the look of the menu and is going to be having them. I'm not keen on this but only because I can't see how much she has eaten. (long story but had a hoohaa when dd1 was at that school and got about 5 mins to eat)

peachyprice

spicyprawn wrote: »

I haven't applied for them because dd2 wants her lunch bag

The school should have made it clearer. Just because you apply for free school meals doesn't mean your DD has to have them, she can still take a packed lunch and the school will still get the extra funding.

The number of meals cooked doesn't bear any relation to the number of children entitled to free, they cook for the number of children who say 'yes' to school dinners at the beginning of the day/week/month/term (however it works in your school)

This was made very clear to us when we got the same letter recently.

Guinea_2

I would urge anyone entitled to FSM to discuss this with their school. Schools have had their budgets cut ridiculously recently & they get money for people claiming for FSM. They need this money. Our school has only two people claiming for FSM but we know there's many more. It's all about money at the moment! Shame but that's how it is!

spicyprawn

peachyprice wrote: »

The school should have made it clearer. Just because you apply for free school meals doesn't mean your DD has to have them, she can still take a packed lunch and the school will still get the extra funding.

The number of meals cooked doesn't bear any relation to the number of children entitled to free, they cook for the number of children who say 'yes' to school dinners at the beginning of the day/week/month/term (however it works in your school)

This was made very clear to us when we got the same letter recently.

Ah I see, we didn't get a letter about it, just this random text this morning