Kay’s Facebook post showing the meals she saw her son eating (Image: Kay Webb)
A worried mum has called for changes to school meals after witnessing the lunches served to primary school pupils. Kay Webb took to Facebook to share images of the “tiny” food portions being given to children as old as 11.
Sharing photos of four meals chosen by her son, she wrote: “This is a post relating to the food our children are being fed. All parents of Shotton Primary School be advised that this is the meal size your children receive daily so when your children come home hungry this is why.”
The school defended their meals on social media, informing parents that children can have two portions of vegetables plus coleslaw, salad and bread to fill their plates. They stated that if children refuse these, they do not challenge it to avoid causing “unnecessary upset” for the pupils.
Kay revealed that she discovered how little her seven-year-old son William was eating when she joined him for lunch, as there was no one available for one-to-one time with him. She recalled: “I was sitting with him and saw the food and thought how bad is this? He was coming home hungry every night and has lost a massive amount of weight. I was being offered protein shakes for him and although we always have food at home I was wondering what I was doing wrong.”I couldn’t see why he was losing weight as he eats plenty at home. When I saw the meals I realised straight away why he was hungry when he got in.”,
The mother of four revealed that her other children had also been returning home hungry, but she hadn’t understood why. She argued that the meal portions need to be larger, especially considering that children as young as four receive the same amount as those aged 10 and 11.
“For some children this might be their only meal – there might not be food at home. They are relying on this and it isn’t enough.”
Kay shared her own experience of going hungry as a child due to neglect before she was placed in care. She said: “I was that child who was starved and had to try to find food elsewhere. I was in the care system from being eight and I will fight for the food to be enough for children.”
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Kay explained that William, now seven, was born four weeks prematurely and spent weeks in the Neonatal Unit at North Tees Hospital in Stockton.
He has sensory issues which mean he doesn’t like certain textures and refuses to eat some foods, including many vegetables. During the week she spent with him, his meals included:
Kay admitted that while William won’t eat vegetables, he is not the only one and many other children are the same. She said: “Even if they topped up their plates with an extra scoop of mash it would help a bit.
“I believe the standards are beyond shocking for the portion size. Children really need this food – it is their main meal. Every child should be entitled to a decent meal of hot food, especially during the winter.”
Kay said there was food available for children arriving at school on a “first come first served” basis. This included fruit and yoghurt. She’s now been told William must return home for lunch and he will be given a packed meal to bring with him.
Kay with her son William (Image: Kay Webb)
Her post has sparked debate online, with many sympathising with her plight.
One poster commented: “Disgusting and how much are parents paying a week for that.”
Echoing this sentiment, another warned: “Some of the children in the school.. this could be the only good meal they get… well you assume school dinners are a good meal. Certainly was many moons ago when I was at school.”
One more added their disbelief saying: “Shocking. I used to love my school meals, and there was a lot more on our plates. It was 50 odd years ago but kids still need a decent meal and that isn’t one. £3 a day is a total rip off.”
Another asked: “Can that even be classed as food, that’s absolutely disgusting! They wanna hang their heads in shame serving that to kids.”
Yet, not everyone agreed. One parent said: “I’ve just asked my son if his school meals are like this he said yes but there’s always beans or veg or salad to go on the side. Unpopular opinion but if you added those things I really don’t think this is too bad. My kids love their school dinners.”
Another comment suggested, “They will get veg offered too. Not the schools fault if your kid won’t eat veg and they can’t give extra scoops of mash instead as there’ll be only enough for one each child.
“Schools are on tight budgets unfortunately. Not saying it’s right like. I’d personally put my kids on packed lunches. Works out cheaper and at least you know that they’ll like it.”
Three of the meals that William had (Image: Kay Webb)
One social media user, who claimed to have previously worked with the company providing the meals at a different school, confirmed that “most primary schools in County Durham are the same”. She added: “As kitchen staff we are told by management the portion sizes to give the children and are inspected every so often to make sure we are doing it correctly and are pulled if not however I must admit the school I used to work in we’d give extra as we also thought the portion sizes are shocking, it definitely needs looking over in my opinion. On the other hand though I’ve also seen how much gets wasted even with these small portions.”
Shotton Primary School has been contacted for comment. However, in a response posted on the school’s Facebook page, the headteacher, Mrs Shaw, thanked “the supportive school community” for bringing the matter to their attention. The post read: “We have been made aware that someone has posted photographs of school dinners on social media without permission. This approach is wrong and totally inappropriate on so many levels. The post itself is full of inaccuracies and gives a very false picture.
“All parents will be aware of our policy as to the use of mobile phones within school for safeguarding reasons, and I can assure you that this matter will be dealt with. It may well bring about further restrictions as to the use of mobile phones within school, and we will of course keep you informed as to any changes necessary.
William spent weeks in the Neonatal Unit (Image: Evening Gazette)
“School lunches are provided by an outside company but are monitored by the Local Authority and of course the school. The photographs that many of you will have seen this evening are of school lunches chosen by a child, not meals that were given.
“Every day children are able to have bread, unlimited salad, coleslaw and 2 portions of vegetables if they wish, along with a choice from a selection of deserts. If children are refusing these additional items, this is not something that staff would challenge as it would cause unnecessary upset for children. Any surplus food is always offered to the children.
“There is so much that we do as a school to ensure that our children do not go hungry and have access to fresh fruit, vegetables and healthy snacks for breakfast and breaktime. Staff give up their own time on a weekly basis – prior to starting work and on weekends – to collect bread from Greggs and fruit and vegetables from Tesco. Without staff’s help and goodwill and financial support from Greggs and Tesco, none of this would be possible.
“In addition to this our children enjoy bacon, egg and sausage sandwiches on a class rota basis funded by Greggs. The total funding that we access as a school is in excess of £300 per week plus 40 loaves of bread that is spent and provided to ensure that we do whatever we can to provide additional food to our children so that they do not go hungry. If a child is coming home hungry it is because they chose not to access what is available for any child.”