All infants in England to get free school lunches

[charitynjw]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24132416
All pupils at infant schools in England are to get free school lunches from next September, Lib Dem leader and Deputy PM Nick Clegg has announced.
The change - for children in reception, year one and year two - will save parents about £400 a year per child.
Targeting infants would ensure "every child gets the chance in life they deserve", teach healthy eating habits and boost attainment, Mr Clegg said.
But Labour said the Lib Dems could not be trusted to deliver.
Money is being provided for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to emulate the English scheme, but as education is a devolved issue, it is up to those running schools there to decide whether to spend the money on free lunches.
A Scottish government spokesman said: "We are committed to expanding this provision further and, once we see the financial implications of this announcement for Scotland, we will examine how best to deliver that expansion.".........................

[Inca]

Re: All infants in England to get free school lunches

About time too..

[Sapphire]

Re: All infants in England to get free school lunches

There was a discussion on Radio 2 about this earlier, that lot on mumsnet were saying what about the people who's children won't eat the school meals/I cook my child a meal every evening so he/she don't need another hot meal at lunchtime ? The next question was 'will I get more child benefit to compensate for sending little he/she to school with a packed lunch'.

Yes, you guessed it the air was blue in here and the computer nearly ended out of the window.

[Inca]

Re: All infants in England to get free school lunches

Seeing that report where that little Daniel Pelka was starved made me think free school meals for infants should be re introduced..at least a child is guaranteed a hot meal 5 days a week.

[Sapphire]

Re: All infants in England to get free school lunches

Seeing that report where that little Daniel Pelka was starved made me think free school meals for infants should be re introduced..at least a child is guaranteed a hot meal 5 days a week.

Totally agree with you, those silly mares on mumsnet/radio 2 do nothing but wind people up.

[enquirer]

Re: All infants in England to get free school lunches

Ah ... there must be an election coming.

[dogtired]

Re: All infants in England to get free school lunches

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-24145299

Again another child that has "slipped throught the net"
Agree with enquirer, must be an election coming up

[Celestine]

Re: All infants in England to get free school lunches

Though I like the idea.....I do wonder how on earth it will be implemented.

1. During the 80's and 90's all the school kitchens of many many primary schools were ripped out in a cost cutting exercise. Children of families entitled to get benefits received a white paper bag containing a sandwich, fruit, biscuit or a yoghurt. The other children brought packed lunch boxes.

2. So, how will these 'cooked dinners' be provided? Airline style food? Delivered from central catering each day? Nutritional benefits?

3. The current school catering suppliers like Initial etc will engage in a frenzy of tendering for these new contracts.

[Amethyst]

Re: All infants in England to get free school lunches

Nanny state.

[enaid]

Re: All infants in England to get free school lunches

Meat and two veg, lol
Sago pudding, glass of water and a head of table making sure you cleared yer plate even if it made you sick.
Yes I think it is a good idea.

[labman]

Re: All infants in England to get free school lunches

Many infant / junior / primary schools only have the ability to keep delivered food warm nowadays, they don't cook on site. Why restrict it to infants though? What about older children?

It's not hard now to keep precooked food hot, but the quality of the food needs to be good, or it will be an expensive waste of time.

I know there is a stigma attached in many schools to being 'Free School Meals' and one of the indicators for funding is the %age of FSM. It is often hard for HT's to convince those eligible to claim, even if they don't eat them, as the school's funding increases.

[PlanB]

Re: All infants in England to get free school lunches

http://www.jamieoliver.com/news-and-...inners-report/

[labman]

Re: All infants in England to get free school lunches

"The report has also called for head teachers to consider banning packed lunches, which in many cases hide a multitude of unhealthy foods."

I feel a test case in court coming on if this is implemented. :beagle:

[dogtired]

Re: All infants in England to get free school lunches

"The report has also called for head teachers to consider banning packed lunches, which in many cases hide a multitude of unhealthy foods."

I feel a test case in court coming on if this is implemented. :beagle:

Yes, what about, in our multi cultural sociaty the various religious requirements?

[enquirer]

Re: All infants in England to get free school lunches

2. So, how will these 'cooked dinners' be provided? Airline style food? Delivered from central catering each day? [...] 3. The current school catering suppliers like Initial etc will engage in a frenzy of tendering for these new contracts.

And guess how many MP's will be acting as highly paid 'consultants' for, or even acting as Directors of, those contractors?