Children are going hungry in schools because they are not being given enough food to eat at lunchtime, a survey shows. Along with children, teachers and parents were concerned about the size of portions, quality and choice of dinners available.
A poll of 503 teachers claimed many schools are charging more for meals, some rising by £100 a year.
School food is subject to severe nutritional guidelines.
The survey results suggested a rise in the number of children on free school meals, which are offered to those from families on benefit, with a third of teachers surveyed saying they had seen a rise in the past five years. Most of them blamed the economy and the increasing rate of unemployment.
Most people agree when it is said that at a time when more children were eligible for free school meals because of rising poverty, it was even more important that school meals were of good quality and size.
However, teachers and parents are raising issues about the quantity of the food that children get, about the choice and the quality. Some teachers are saying that children don’t get enough food.
“I think it’s absolutely the case that children are going hungry and we all know what hunger does to young people’s ability to learn” says Mrs Sharma, a parent governor of Herschel Grammar School.
But about one in ten respondents of the poll said pupils on free school meals did not actually eat school food, with 44% saying their children did not
On quality, one primary school teacher said: “There are times that meals are good but others when they are most unappetising. There have been many occasions where the portion sizes are very small and there have been a countless amount of times when portions have run out.”
A secondary school teacher said: “There seems to be a lot of carbohydrates on offer each day. There are usually chips, pasta and rice available, while vegetables and salad don’t seem to be on offer. Although the meals are cooked in the school’s kitchen, the choice is limited to what our cook is able to make in large quantities.”
On average, approximately 34% said the price of meals charged to students in their school or college were value for money but about two-thirds (60%) did not.
One year eleven teacher, from Manchester, said: “all of the children and members of staff pay the same price for a certain amount of food, but students get a very small portion in comparison to staff, which is unfair as many years ten and eleven students are about the size of an average adult. Also, they do not get the choice as this is also saved for the adults.”
Another member working in the later year’s sector emphasised this response, saying: “The young children often get very small portions and very limited choice. Children who come with packed lunches eat a lot more at lunchtime.”
School projects manager at the Jamie Oliver Foundation, Michelle Smith, said many studies had proved that a nutritious lunch was essential for a child’s concentration, behaviour and chance of achieving.
It was also said that “school meals need to be affordable for families. Our research proves that school food is particularly sensitive to changes in price and in these tough financial times, access to decent food at school for children has never been so important. Schools need support to build
“Every child’s appetite is different so portion sizes aren’t set generally – but cooks do get to know their pupils, and should make sure they are getting a portion that’s appropriate for them.”
