Free school meals

[Esceptico]

Just read in the news that research on free school meals for all kids at primary and infant shows that there is a measurable drop in obesity rates. Also that the government is considering the suspension of such trial schemes to save money.

When I grew up in the seventies we all had free school meals up to senior school. How is it that after 40 years of economic growth we are no longer able as a society to provide free school meals for our children?

[Bigends]

Esceptico said:

Just read in the news that research on free school meals for all kids at primary and infant shows that there is a measurable drop in obesity rates. Also that the government is considering the suspension of such trial schemes to save money.

When I grew up in the seventies we all had free school meals up to senior school. How is it that after 40 years of economic growth we are no longer able as a society to provide free school meals for our children?

I paid for all of my school meals right through to 1972 when I left

[waynedear]

I imagine if they did do it then the nightmare would just be starting.
‘I can’t eat that’
‘I won’t eat that’
‘I’m not eating that’
‘I’m not allowed to eat that’
They would have to do different meals for each kid.

[Countdown]

Bigends said:

Esceptico said:

Just read in the news that research on free school meals for all kids at primary and infant shows that there is a measurable drop in obesity rates. Also that the government is considering the suspension of such trial schemes to save money.

When I grew up in the seventies we all had free school meals up to senior school. How is it that after 40 years of economic growth we are no longer able as a society to provide free school meals for our children?

I paid for all of my school meals right through to 1972 when I left

Possibly Esceptico was from a deprived area where all the kids were on FSM?

Dropping FSM is a stupid and shortsighted plan in my opinion Hungry kids dont tend to do particularly well at school which has an impact on attainment rates which, in turn, have an impact on employment prospects.

[JagLover]

School Meals at junior school were pretty poor from what I remember. I switched to sandwiches for the last couple of years from what I remember.

Much better at secondary school but lunchtimes were staggered due to capacity so I had school meals in the first year (who got in first) and then sandwiches thereafter.

a lot more to consider than just whether it is free or not.

Edited by JagLover on Sunday 8th March 17:59

[bitchstewie]

I wonder if anyone has ever looked at any correlation between league tables and things like this?

[J4CKO]

I remember taking lunch money in a Golden Virginian tin as a kid in the seventies, so it wasnt free.

It was mostly stodge followed by stodge with custard, some of it was a bit grim but mostly ok.

[Welshbeef]

Back in the 1980’s I had free primary school meals but come secondary school it was all paid - which meant that I and many of my friends mainly had packed lunches.

One of our kids is now just over the free school meals - she loved them but she’s on packed lunches now with the occasional meal.
Our middle one could have free school meals but really doesn’t like any of the options so he’s only ever had packed lunches which is fine.

[Sophisticated Sarah]

I don’t think we had several tiers of admin jobs for schools or classes with over 50 students back then? All requires paying for.

[amgmcqueen]

Esceptico said:

Just read in the news that research on free school meals for all kids at primary and infant shows that there is a measurable drop in obesity rates. Also that the government is considering the suspension of such trial schemes to save money.

When I grew up in the seventies we all had free school meals up to senior school. How is it that after 40 years of economic growth we are no longer able as a society to provide free school meals for our children?

The EU has taken all our money.....

[pequod]

Memory fade but, if I recall, there was little choice, you either ate it or not. If you didn't like meat you left the meat and ate the vegetables. No special meals in my generation and unless your family was destitute, you paid, 5 bob a week as I remember!

Tough love or reality of the times, I don't know the answer, however we all survived somehow and developed a better understanding of the difference between haute cuisine and Maccy D's!!

[voyds9]

Esceptico said:

Just read in the news that research on free school meals for all kids at primary and infant shows that there is a measurable drop in obesity rates. Also that the government is considering the suspension of such trial schemes to save money.

When I grew up in the seventies we all had free school meals up to senior school. How is it that after 40 years of economic growth we are no longer able as a society to provide free school meals for our children?

At the same time Trump has been President, would another 5 years reduce obesity further?

[Countdown]

Did different LAs have different FSM policies?

Ours (Lancashire) it was only free if your parents were on benefits, it wasn’t offered to anybody. Plus it was the same food as everybody else

[vaud]

Ours was okay - edible. Jam sponge and custard was fantastic.

Somewhat marred in about 1985 when the teachers went to "work to rule"and no longer provided lunchtime cover for a few weeks, and so lots of 10/11 year olds were released on the streets for a £1 fish and chip special.

[eccles]

Countdown said:

Did different LAs have different FSM policies?

Ours (Lancashire) it was only free if your parents were on benefits, it wasn’t offered to anybody. Plus it was the same food as everybody else

Same as us in Wales, only the poor kids had FSM, the rest of us paid for them.

The veg was usually cooked within an inch of it's life, but the meat was ok. Coconut topped jam sponge pudding with custard was always nice. Proper 70's food!

[pequod]

eccles said:

Same as us in Wales, only the poor kids had FSM, the rest of us paid for them.

The veg was usually cooked within an inch of it's life, but the meat was ok. Coconut topped jam sponge pudding with custard was always nice. Proper 70's food!

Oh god, yes, thanks for reminding me ... delicious! I wonder if that was a 'national' recipe which all schools would produce and maybe the others on the weekly (fortnightly?) menu too?

[anonymous-user]

Bigends said:

I paid for all of my school meals right through to 1972 when I left

Sheesh, what was your first job?

[Bigends]

Killboy said:

Bigends said:

I paid for all of my school meals right through to 1972 when I left

Sheesh, what was your first job?

With parents money. 6d a day at junior school and a shilling a day - (later 5p) at secondary school - terrific value and great grub

[Murph7355]

Esceptico said:

....
When I grew up in the seventies we all had free school meals up to senior school. How is it that after 40 years of economic growth we are no longer able as a society to provide free school meals for our children?

Not sure they were all free.

Regardless, the range of things we spend the money on, and the size of our population, likely outstripped the growth in tax revenues.

This is why a massive rethink is required on large chunks of our expenditure - trying to turn the tap on more to fill a leaky bucket has a very finite runway.

[Esceptico]

Murph7355 said:

Esceptico said:

....
When I grew up in the seventies we all had free school meals up to senior school. How is it that after 40 years of economic growth we are no longer able as a society to provide free school meals for our children?

Not sure they were all free.

Regardless, the range of things we spend the money on, and the size of our population, likely outstripped the growth in tax revenues.

This is why a massive rethink is required on large chunks of our expenditure - trying to turn the tap on more to fill a leaky bucket has a very finite runway.

We have a bigger population but the percentage of people working is higher than in the seventies (currently 76%) and people should on average be earning more so why should taxes be proportionally lower than in the 70s?