PARENTS are lashing out at the “atrocious” free school meals being served to their young kids.
They claim pupils at Bulwell Academy in Nottinghamshire are going hungry because of the food is like “scraps for animals”.
Parents say the meals are too small – and lack nutrition.
They are able to see exactly what their kids have eaten through the ParentPay app which lets them pay for school trips, snacks, and see what the pupils have bought for lunch.
Father of four, Craig Laird, says the nutritional requirements “are just not being met”.
He claims his kids are often forced to choose between a single pizza slice, pasta or a plain baguette.
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He told Nottinghamshire Live: “It’s literally like a polystyrene tea cup with pasta and blob of sauce on top. These are supposed to be nutritional meals, but it’s really really really atrocious, I wouldn’t even give that to my dog.
“My daughter has a disability which involves having an enlarged tongue which is really sensitive.
“Half of these meals are all spicy and she can’t have those, so she has to go for the second option which is a slice of pizza that basically looks like it has been bought from Aldi out of the cheap everyday range at 59p and you just get a piece.”
And when asked about the baguette, he said: “It’s an 8-inch roll of bread that has been sliced and has a block of cheese in it and that’s it, it’s disgusting. They’re getting treated worse than in a prison.”
Craig claims most kids pick pizza because they are picky eaters.
He added: “You have parents, all these other parents, who rely on schools for that meal to feed their kids, as they can’t afford to feed them properly at home, especially in the current climate.
“They should be on proper bolognese, they don’t even get a real choice.”
Another mum, who asked to remain anonymous, told how her daughter is “always hungry” after her lunch.
She said: “I never realised the meals were this bad, it’s like feeding animals scrap. Some kids only get that meal at school, it’s not good enough.
“From what I’ve been told by my daughter they’ve always been like it, she has school dinners and been taking loads of snacks to keep her going. How are kids meant to focus on work when they’re not eating properly?”
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A spokesperson from the school said: “At Bulwell Academy we are always grateful for feedback from parents and students. Our catering staff work hard to ensure that all our menus are nutritionally balanced however we welcome suggestions for future menus.
“We ask about dietary requirements before pupils start at Bulwell Academy and tailored menus are created based on their needs. Our newly appointed student form representatives will also be involved in menu choices going forwards to ensure that student voices are heard.”
