Child Refused His Lunch At School

[mikey4444]

I have seen this on the BBC website this morning ::

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-22855011

Did the school handle this is in the best way ? It seems to me that common sense went out the window when this young boy wanted his lunch. Yet the school seems to be entirely unfazed.

[Cloverjo]

That's appalling. I can't believe that was the school's policy. I can only think there was a misunderstanding of procedure by the the kitchen staff.
If they "usually phone the parents" in this situation, according to the business manager (since when do schools have a business manager, anyway?) why didn't they this time?

[Old_Geezer]

Account ? in my day if you wanted a school meal you paid for it first thing on the day. Any issue, such as forgetting money, could be discussed with teacher first thing. As I suspect, the way things are done get worse as time goes by.

[murraymints]

SHOCKING ...that school should hang it's head in shame !

[naomi24]

That's disgraceful. Perhaps a curriculum should be drawn for the staff, with lessons in common sense at the top of the agenda.

[ummmm]

Many schools use catering companies.

When mine were in primary we were suppose to fill out a meals sheet at the beginning of the week and pay for those days in advance.

At their current school they have cards which need topping up.

[murraymints]

You'd expect a dinner lady to have a bit of sense though...I'd pay myself...couldn't watch a hungry child cry !

[naomi24]

Me too, Murraymints. Bloody ridiculous!

[rockyracoon]

I appreciate that schools have bills to pay and that lunch debts are probably at their worst, but one day's payment is not enough to withold a lunch IMO. I do wonder though if maybe the parent is a repeat offender and the school has had enough, my kids school will let the kids go in debit for a bit before they pull the plug, don't know what the cut off point is though.

I'm glad mine have packed lunch and don't want school dinner.

[emmie]

whilst i agree common sense should have come into play, perhaps there had been a problem before, who knows.

[sara3]

at my kids' school you pay into an account, then there is a fingerprint recognition device in the canteen.. stick your finger in and the cost gets deducted from your account. the technology still surprises me.

[B00]

"Omg. It's just like a real world restaurant where you have to pay before you eat. "

Really? Which restaurant's do you eat at that you have to pay first?

As for the school, as others have said, it's utterly ridiculous, and downright petty to let a child go without food for the sake of £1.75!

[murraymints]

Em...even so I'd STILL give a hungry child a meal !

[ludwig]

Ridiculous Jobsworth-ism.

[emmie]

murray, i didn't say i wouldn't, common sense would have been to feed the boy, however i wonder that like all things there isn't two sides to the story.

[daisya]

@ B00 there are several restaurants where you order and pay at till before receiving the food.. for those who like it that way.

I read this story too, terrible for the poor child and I can't believe people would be so insensitive. A call to the parents after giving the child lunch would have been the done thing, why can't people think for goodness sake.

[ichkeria]

" however i wonder that like all things there isn't two sides to the story."

I wonder that as well. Removing the child from school and resigning from the governors seems a bit drastic. Still, plainly not a good situation.

[AlwaysConfused]

This is shocking. Even at my age the canteen at work takes pity on me and give me a meal if I've forgotten my purse. But a growing child needs food. The school is in the wrong. Common sense and a little empathy wouldn't have gone amiss

[mushroom25]

jobsworth-ism, and probably a bit harsh - but the parent admitted that he knew the rules and allowed his account to go into arrears. so to look at it from the other side, it ill-becomes the parent to make such a fuss when he clearly knew he was in the wrong. really, that's no different to turning up for a ryainair flight without a pre-printed boarding card and making a fuss because they make you pay an extra £30.