Child not eating school dinner

CH27

Notanewuser you are going to have an awful reputation at your DD's school

notanewuser

CH27 wrote: »

Notanewuser you can going to have an awful reputation at your DD's school

Hmmmm! Possibly! Luckily I don't really give a toss. I won't apologise for taking an interest or speaking up when I don't think things are right. And I'm not alone. We'll be rocking the PTA next week.

The Head seems to be open to discussion about things, but DD's teacher can't see beyond her own (narrow) views. That's fine by me, but I'm not about to agree with them, especially when there's plenty of evidence against what she does.

I won't let parental apathy be a barrier either. Just because most people want their children in school ASAP to save them on childcare and don't really care what happens in the classrooms, doesn't mean I don't.

moomoomama27

notanewuser wrote: »

No, they don't all have choice. I thought my posts were fairly clear, but to surmise:

* We're in Wales so no free meals. Meals cost £2.25 per day
* school has policy of all nursery and reception children having school dinners
* school dinner menu shows a choice, but it's become apparent this week that the nursery children are given no choice. Their food is decided by the school cook and plated up for them.
* DD is not a fussy eater, provided she's not presented with mashed potato or gravy. Mashed potato features 3 times a week and gravy once a week. On the other days, while there is 1 thing she would eat happily in each protein/carb/veg category she/we won't be given a choice.
*It's likely then that she'll not eat some/most days of the week. This is a waste of my money (£2.25 per day), food, and DD will likely have to last a whole day at school with one piece of fruit (supplied by us).
* Staff response is that they "reward children for eating their dinners" and that they "don't pander to fussy eaters". This attitude worries me and at least 2 other mothers.
* The meals offered aren't going to win any nutritional awards as it is.

Do you have to send her there, given how unhappy the whole school makes you, prayers, sharing, and now meals?

If the meal is plated up, what is the point of a menu giving choice. Perhaps you will need to communicate with the staff about the choice of menu you would prefer for your child.

I agree that they should not panda to fussy eaters, but as there is a choice on the menu, one would hope that they should have access to that choice.

notanewuser

moomoomama27 wrote: »

Do you have to send her there, given how unhappy the whole school makes you, prayers, sharing, and now meals?

If the meal is played up, what is the point of a menu giving choice. Perhaps you will need to communicate with the staff about the choice of menu you would prefer for your child.

I agree that they should not lands to fussy eaters, but as there is a choice on the menu, one would hope that they should gave that choice.

It's our catchment Welsh-medium school. We've no hope of getting into any of the others as WM education in the area is over-subscribed as it is. And frankly the ONLY reason she's there at this age is because it's (WM schooling) the best and easiest way to become bilingual.

So basically it's this, give up the Welsh and go to an English medium school which may not do things differently/better or homeschool. In that order.

I believe the school overall is a good school, it's just that this one teacher.

The Local Authority set the menu, so the same food is served in every primary school in the authority. I'm guessing (but have asked the LA) that it's up to each school how they deliver it, and again this teacher has decided to take the route that suits her rather than what's in the best interests of the children. My biggest issue is that they don't TELL prospective or new parents ANY of this - it's only because I happen to have asked certain questions that I know any of this is happening.

Similarly, each school arranges how it takes new nursery pupils in. The local English school just takes them full time from day one. Others do a week of mornings, and a week of afternoons and then go full time. DD has done 8 days of 2 hours each in the past 2 weeks, and goes almost full time next week. They say it's best for the children, but I think it's actually just easier for the teachers.

Indie_Kid

notanewuser wrote: »

* DD is not a fussy eater, provided she's not presented with mashed potato or gravy. Mashed potato features 3 times a week and gravy once a week. On the other days, while there is 1 thing she would eat happily in each protein/carb/veg category she/we won't be given a choice.

As much as I do like mashed potato, 3 times a week is too much imo.

* Staff response is that they "reward children for eating their dinners" and that they "don't pander to fussy eaters". This attitude worries me and at least 2 other mothers..

This is something that worries me too. I don't like this idea of rewarding children for eating their dinner.

notanewuser

Indie_Kid wrote: »

As much as I do like mashed potato, 3 times a week is too much imo.

It's on the menu 3 times a week. Whether they give it to the nursery children depends on the school cook's mood.

mumps

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

You really are trying to put something on my remarks that is not there.

If I was starving hungry because I'd missed a meal, I'd make sure I ate the next time. I suppose they might chose to go hungry, in which case they won't starve, they will eat at home.

I was just trying to reassure the OP, that they probably would eat it given time but that even if they don't eat their lunch it is no big deal, they won't starve.

Now I will not explain myself again.

But the government are telling us it is a big deal, that is why they are providing free school meals for children in Key Stage 1 in England. It is supposed to raise standards as children who have a good lunch achieve more in school. I have read somewhere that there is research to back this up but I don't know about that. I suppose a search of the internet would show something about it.

notanewuser

mumps wrote: »

But the government are telling us it is a big deal, that is why they are providing free school meals for children in Key Stage 1 in England. It is supposed to raise standards as children who have a good lunch achieve more in school. I have read somewhere that there is research to back this up but I don't know about that. I suppose a search of the internet would show something about it.

The Education Secretary said on Radio 4 this week that it was because too many people that are entitled to free school meals weren't claiming them. :whistle:

moomoomama27

notanewuser wrote: »

It's our catchment Welsh-medium school. We've no hope of getting into any of the others as WM education in the area is over-subscribed as it is. And frankly the ONLY reason she's there at this age is because it's (WM schooling) the best and easiest way to become bilingual.

So basically it's this, give up the Welsh and go to an English medium school which may not do things differently/better or homeschool. In that order.

I believe the school overall is a good school, it's just that this one teacher.

The Local Authority set the menu, so the same food is served in every primary school in the authority. I'm guessing (but have asked the LA) that it's up to each school how they deliver it, and again this teacher has decided to take the route that suits her rather than what's in the best interests of the children. My biggest issue is that they don't TELL prospective or new parents ANY of this - it's only because I happen to have asked certain questions that I know any of this is happening.

Similarly, each school arranges how it takes new nursery pupils in. The local English school just takes them full time from day one. Others do a week of mornings, and a week of afternoons and then go full time. DD has done 8 days of 2 hours each in the past 2 weeks, and goes almost full time next week. They say it's best for the children, but I think it's actually just easier for the teachers.

I see, I understand your predicament.

That teacher sounds like perhaps she should opt for a career change! I would be furious to pay for a menu with choice, to find my child actually had no choice.

This was suggested in our school, for reception class to have their meals plated, to make it quicker and easier for everyone. However, it takes away their choice of meal, so the majority of staff (myself included), voted a firm no to this idea. It has been suggested a weekly meal card is sent home, inline with the menu, for parents to tick an option so the kitchen staff can plate up, but that was pretty much disregarded due to the time it would take to ensure each child received the correct meal!

Carmina-Piranha_2

notanewuser wrote: »

The Education Secretary said on Radio 4 this week that it was because too many people that are entitled to free school meals weren't claiming them. :whistle:

They have to claim that separately though, and I bet now that the form doesn't have to be filled in to get the free dinner that fewer parents are actually filling it in.