*pretends to be mc_squared*

 

Schoolgirl who forgot her dinner money is given bread and water

 

A girl of eight who forgot her £3.50 lunch money was instead given a school dinner of bread and water.

 

For dessert, Courtney Williams got a blackened banana.

 

"Prisoners get better food," her mother Michelle said. "I was fuming."

 

The incident happened at Castle Hill Primary School in Brockworth, Gloucester, which has "healthy school" status.

 

Mrs Williams said: "After Courtney had gone to school, I had a call from the headteacher asking me for £3.50 for her lunch money.

 

"I promised her I would take the money in between 11am and 12pm, but asked could they make sure Courtney got her dinner. They assured me that was fine.

 

"I went down to the school, but unfortunately I didn't get there until after 1pm. When I gave the money to the cook, I was told my daughter had been given bread, water and a banana.

 

"Courtney was also really upset that she was made to sit with her friends while they all ate a hot meal of rice and fish and a dessert. Eating dry bread is just not on."

 

Courtney said: "It was very embarrassing when I took my plate up to get some food with all the other children and they just handed me another plate with dry bread on it.

 

"I was quite upset. I had to sit and watch everyone else eat proper meals and I just had some bread and an old banana with a black skin."

 

Mrs Williams, a single mother, said it was difficult for her to pay for the week's meals for her daughter on Mondays.

 

"I used to work as a domestic assistant at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, but I gave in my notice after my mother died last October and I'm unemployed at the moment," she said.

 

"I am expected to pay on Mondays, but I don't get my tax credit and benefit till Wednesdays. I would have thought the school could understand that and make allowances." Courtney is not eligible for free school meals because her mother's income support application is still being processed.

 

The school headmistress, Sue Rowlinson, said they had tried their best to help Mrs Williams and find a solution to the payment problems, and would continue to do so.

 

She added: "We have, on numerous occasions, provided meals and accommodated late payments from this parent. We would never allow a child to go hungry.

 

"However, the policy of our school meal provider, Sodexho, clearly states that payment for meals must be made in advance and they will be unable to provide a meal if payment is not received.

 

"Our main concern is always the heath and wellbeing of our pupils.

 

"We have tried to come to an arrangement with this parent to accommodate any difficulties she may have in paying for the meals at the start of the week.

 

"We will continue to try to find a way forward to everyone's satisfaction."

 

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Sorry, but why are newspapers reporting on something which happened back in November?

It could have been worse - she might have been given turkey twizzlers!!:stunned:

But on a serious note (also because I work for the same company), they are a private company, who don't get a lot from the governement to feed children (I believe the current rate is a mere £0.12 per child for lunch), so to give the kids a better lunch than just rubbish, they charge.

 

It's not the companies fault that the mother doesn't give her child money in the morning? Whatever happened to the old "pay in advance" system?

seems straight forward to me. you get your money on wednesday and set aside the lunch money in an envelope until mon. daughter then takes lunch money in to school on mon. child eats, company gets money, everyone is happy.

seems straight forward to me. you get your money on wednesday and set aside the lunch money in an envelope until mon. daughter then takes lunch money in to school on mon. child eats, company gets money, everyone is happy.

 

What's the betting the mother actually spent it on fags??:rolleyes:

Just fags?

 

Or drugs?

Just fags?

 

Or drugs?

 

Are drugs really that cheap?:rolleyes:

depends on where your buying then from.

depends on where your buying then from.

 

You appear to be quite the expert!!:rolleyes:

I am

I am

 

:stunned:

is it really such a big deal in the uk?

all the information i know is from jamie oliver... lol.

£3.50 for LUNCH for a KID for a DAY? What do the get normally? Prawn sandwiches, marble cake and a raspberry smoothie? You can get the whole shop at Greggs for £3-50!!

£3.50 for LUNCH for a KID for a DAY? What do the get normally? Prawn sandwiches, marble cake and a raspberry smoothie? You can get the whole shop at Greggs for £3-50!!

haha,true,thats too much for one lunch

here we have lunch for 26 korun what is 0.5 pound

Ha if I ever forget my money I go on a scumming mission!

£3.50 is luxury, the army gets £1.51 to feed one solider 3 meals a day.

 

That's until pay-as-you-dine comes in :(

 

No more free food for David :(

£3.50 for LUNCH for a KID for a DAY? What do the get normally? Prawn sandwiches, marble cake and a raspberry smoothie? You can get the whole shop at Greggs for £3-50!!

 

from the sound of the article, and from what i remember, that's likely to be the contribution to school dinners for the entire week in a primary school. whether that's the subsidised rate for lower income families or not i wouldn't have a clue

poor girl, but it is the moms fault...however, in the United States, Free lunch is provided for children from VERY low income homes, the lunch is fruits and vegetables, but it is MUCH more appetizing than dry bread!