Parents have been banned from taking their children to a school’s breakfast club after shirking payments.And the problem? Well, it seems that either the wording of the email wasn’t entirely clear or (personally, a far more likely scenario) the head threatened to pull the plug and has now had to back-pedal fast…
Confusion reigned when Holmbush Primary Academy in Shoreham sent out a text message to all parents saying the popular club would be no more because some parents were not paying.
Paying parents reacted angrily to the message sent on Tuesday morning and after The Argus contacted the school, a further message was circulated to clear up the issue. Rebecca Jackson, headteacher, confirmed the £1.50-a-day Breakfast Club had not closed and will continue to run as normal.Whew! It’s OK, folks, you can go back to not feeding your own kids! Not that everyone’s mollified:
One paying parent, who has contacted Ofsted about the issue, was left disgusted by the way the situation had been handled and said: “It’s just an “I don’t care” attitude.
“It completely goes against every other school’s ethos of caring for children.
“It just beggars belief.”What? I mean, why – other than an overweening sense of entitlement – would you think that a school’s ethos of ‘caring for children’ would extend to feeding the little blighters?
The Argus spoke to Ms Jackson on Tuesday afternoon and minutes later another text message was sent to parents to clarify the situation. But a parent, who had contacted the headteacher, was told it was only the school’s statutory duty to have the children in school from 8.50am to 3.15pm and that complaints could be directed to the board of governors via their clerk.
Ms Jackson told the parent in an email seen by The Argus: “We actually have no duty of care for your child outside of those times.”Quite! Meanwhile, in Dagenham:
Parents from Furze Infants are calling for a breakfast club to be opened at Warren Junior School.*rolls eyes*
Priya Millington, 38, has a son at Furze Infants due to move schools in September. With an 8.15am start at work the lack of a breakfast club will mean the added expense of extra childcare.
She said: “I am going to have to sort someone to take my son to school in the morning. I work four days a week.”Yes. Didn’t you think of that before you had a kid?
Navjeet Bharti, 49, who has a six-and-a-half-year-old daughter, has cut back her hours. She says the club is important for parents who need to work, adding: “This is the first time I have done reduced hours. Reducing my hours means I have less to pay the bills.”Yes. One of the consequences of having a kid. Good gravy, can’t anyone plan these things now, or are they simply incapable of the necessary sacrifice needed?
A mum who did not want to be named said that the lack of continuity between schools is disruptive for children and makes it difficult for working parents.
“We just want there to be understanding that there are working parents who do not always have flexibility.”Then don’t be a working parent. Simples!
A council spokeswoman said the school is supportive of the idea and would be happy to accommodate a breakfast club at the school but they can only do so if the demand is there.
She added: “The school and the governors are willing but they need enough parents. You can’t run one at a loss.
“They are going to keep trying but they need enough expressions of interest.”Eventually, I think they will give in and start running these things at a loss.
All to satisfy the desires of people who want a child, but don’t want any of the responsibility that comes with a child.
As a primary school governor, where a breakfast club is running, I think that you are being a bit too harsh. After all, school is more or less compulsory, at the very least you pay for it regardless, and one doesn't have much choice in the timetable so schools should try and help.
ReplyDeleteOur school's management needed a bit of encouragement, but once started, it has been a runaway, self funding, success. The concept of offer and demand does not come naturally to people who only have ever worked in the public sector...
Someone tried to tell me that there was a time when school breakfast clubs didn't exist and that the female parent (typical, what with the patriarchy) had to minister to the needs of her own child by opening a box of cornflakes. Frankly, I can't believe that we were ever so backward.
ReplyDeleteSurely the parents who are using the breakfast club without paying are the ones that deserve criticism.
ReplyDeleteStonyground
I always thought schools are there to educate (yes I can hear you laughing but it worked once upon a time). Parents are supposed to nurture. My Mum got three of us off to school with hot food inside of us and still went to work. It's called organisation. Parents don't know they've been born these days.
ReplyDeleteThat's the way it used to be. That's the way it should be now.
"...I think that you are being a bit too harsh. After all, school is more or less compulsory, at the very least you pay for it regardless, and one doesn't have much choice in the timetable so schools should try and help."
ReplyDeleteHelp kids read, write and add up, yes. Feed them? Errr, no! We've managed this for years. I never ever went to school hungry. As Trevor points out.
"Surely the parents who are using the breakfast club without paying are the ones that deserve criticism."
There's plenty to go round!
"My Mum got three of us off to school with hot food inside of us and still went to work. It's called organisation. Parents don't know they've been born these days."
THIS! Squared.