Feeding the classroom
Discussion
Evening all. I received two letters from the school today, one for each child. The jist of it is that the school believes growing kids need snacks at school and they want the parents to provide them. You get assigned one day per month (per child) to send in snacks for the whole class. Has anyone else encountered this before? Immediate thoughts were that 3 square meals a day should be enough and if they deserve a treat in the evening, they get one. Based on the inability of a sizeable proportion of the parents to understand basic parking etiquette I also wonder how many of them have the nous to keep up basic hygiene in the home too. Also, I can’t be arsed to lay on a mini buffet twice a month, I’ll send my kid in with a snack if need be. What about people on free school meals was another thought (low on cash). Am I being a lazy mingebag?
I run the catering for a group of schools and a few other places.
If the school feels that children need a snack at any point in the day then its reasonable to ask parents to provide one from home for their own child, a piece of fruit for example. That's it. If parents cannot/do not provide it then its up to the school to provide it at their own cost if they feel so compelled (my schools do for mid morning snack).
Asking a parent to provide food for a class "on rota" is not acceptable let alone within food hygiene regs. Inform them so.
If the school feels that children need a snack at any point in the day then its reasonable to ask parents to provide one from home for their own child, a piece of fruit for example. That's it. If parents cannot/do not provide it then its up to the school to provide it at their own cost if they feel so compelled (my schools do for mid morning snack).
Asking a parent to provide food for a class "on rota" is not acceptable let alone within food hygiene regs. Inform them so.
I'd tell them get lost. I think most parents wouldn't want to spend money for an entire class of kids they don't care about.
when i was in primary school it was lunch + 1 snack. almost all kids would eat their snacks in the morning break time. then have lunch at noon. nobody would have a snack at the afternoon break time.
when i was in primary school it was lunch + 1 snack. almost all kids would eat their snacks in the morning break time. then have lunch at noon. nobody would have a snack at the afternoon break time.
21TonyK said:
I run the catering for a group of schools and a few other places.
If the school feels that children need a snack at any point in the day then its reasonable to ask parents to provide one from home for their own child, a piece of fruit for example. That's it. If parents cannot/do not provide it then its up to the school to provide it at their own cost if they feel so compelled (my schools do for mid morning snack).
Asking a parent to provide food for a class "on rota" is not acceptable let alone within food hygiene regs. Inform them so.
Thanks. Is there a specific regulation I could refer to? If the school feels that children need a snack at any point in the day then its reasonable to ask parents to provide one from home for their own child, a piece of fruit for example. That's it. If parents cannot/do not provide it then its up to the school to provide it at their own cost if they feel so compelled (my schools do for mid morning snack).
Asking a parent to provide food for a class "on rota" is not acceptable let alone within food hygiene regs. Inform them so.
Saleen836 said:
How would it even be feasible considering almost all kids these days are precious and have an allergy to something or other or the fruit has to be halal or some random thing
They did mention no nuts....I can’t see the logic behind it to be honest. It’s a state school but with a decent catchment area, I would be surprised if any parent had an issue with supplying an Apple to their own children per day. Jag_NE said:
Thanks. Is there a specific regulation I could refer to?
Yes, The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013Specifically the fact that the place where the food has been prepared has not been registered, inspected and approved for the preparation of food. The person preparing is unlikely to hold a food hygiene certificate. If necessary the food is unlikely to have been packaged and transported and stored with temperature control. There will be no trace ability of ingredients and no allergen information provided.
A one off of a kid bringing in some fairy cakes for class on their birthday is normal in a lot of schools and most would turn a blind eye to it but asking for routine food for classes is way off the mark.
As others have suggested we ask parents to either send in fruit or make a termly contribution towards fruit provided by the school. We also provide each class with bread for toast on Fridays, fresh veg and they make up different dips in class.
Edited by 21TonyK on Friday 14th September 06:53
It sounds like a labour policy where f
k all common sense turned up at the meeting that morning. Food hygene laws should squash that idea quickly enough.
At our school the kids bake once a week, a biscuit or whatever, and we donate 5 quid a term. I Wouldnt mind donating some more if they wanted morning snacks however i reckon its only because some children dont get fed on the morning which has prompted this. Slack arsed parents who get up at half 8 and are last through the gates at 9 with poor johnny falling asleep in class at 11.
k all common sense turned up at the meeting that morning. Food hygene laws should squash that idea quickly enough. At our school the kids bake once a week, a biscuit or whatever, and we donate 5 quid a term. I Wouldnt mind donating some more if they wanted morning snacks however i reckon its only because some children dont get fed on the morning which has prompted this. Slack arsed parents who get up at half 8 and are last through the gates at 9 with poor johnny falling asleep in class at 11.
Jag_NE said:
21TonyK said:
I run the catering for a group of schools and a few other places.
If the school feels that children need a snack at any point in the day then its reasonable to ask parents to provide one from home for their own child, a piece of fruit for example. That's it. If parents cannot/do not provide it then its up to the school to provide it at their own cost if they feel so compelled (my schools do for mid morning snack).
Asking a parent to provide food for a class "on rota" is not acceptable let alone within food hygiene regs. Inform them so.
Thanks. Is there a specific regulation I could refer to? If the school feels that children need a snack at any point in the day then its reasonable to ask parents to provide one from home for their own child, a piece of fruit for example. That's it. If parents cannot/do not provide it then its up to the school to provide it at their own cost if they feel so compelled (my schools do for mid morning snack).
Asking a parent to provide food for a class "on rota" is not acceptable let alone within food hygiene regs. Inform them so.
In relation to the posts about food hygiene and so on.....
At our local primary school (going back the last 40+ years) Parents have effectively provided the food for Xmas parties. Basically each child has to bring in one of the following for 6 kids (sandwiches/cakes/crisps/fizzy pop/chocolates). That means that each table has a decent selection of party food. This still goes on AIUI (my youngest left primary a few years ago).
Therefore I’m not sure if it’s a big issue.... (or whether it even should be, quite frankly)
At our local primary school (going back the last 40+ years) Parents have effectively provided the food for Xmas parties. Basically each child has to bring in one of the following for 6 kids (sandwiches/cakes/crisps/fizzy pop/chocolates). That means that each table has a decent selection of party food. This still goes on AIUI (my youngest left primary a few years ago).
Therefore I’m not sure if it’s a big issue.... (or whether it even should be, quite frankly)
Countdown said:
In relation to the posts about food hygiene and so on.....
At our local primary school (going back the last 40+ years) Parents have effectively provided the food for Xmas parties. Basically each child has to bring in one of the following for 6 kids (sandwiches/cakes/crisps/fizzy pop/chocolates). That means that each table has a decent selection of party food. This still goes on AIUI (my youngest left primary a few years ago).
Therefore I’m not sure if it’s a big issue.... (or whether it even should be, quite frankly)
It is different doing that at Christmas than every day. At our local primary school (going back the last 40+ years) Parents have effectively provided the food for Xmas parties. Basically each child has to bring in one of the following for 6 kids (sandwiches/cakes/crisps/fizzy pop/chocolates). That means that each table has a decent selection of party food. This still goes on AIUI (my youngest left primary a few years ago).
Therefore I’m not sure if it’s a big issue.... (or whether it even should be, quite frankly)
What a rediculous idea tell them to do one. I’m amazed now I’m a parent and have many friends in the same boat how different schools are in different areas. Some provide snacks and meals free of charge to everyone some charge and then there are stupid ideas like this. Our sons school keep his swimming and PE kits all term wash and dry them every week and send them home at the end of term which was very unexpected their rational is that it’s easier than constant reminders to parents to send kit in and nobody is excluded for not having their kit, not like in my day when you did PE in your pants if you forgot.
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