Teachers pay for pupils breakfasts after losing funding

“BEP,,,,,,,sort it out”

“Vicks,,,Why don't you read the story,

"Teachers at a school in Bristol are paying for more than 130 breakfast meals for pupils"

So if teachers are NOT paying for breakfast for your son, then why are you commenting?”

“@Vicks,,,Why don't you read the story,

"Teachers at a school in Bristol are paying for more than 130 breakfast meals for pupils"

So if teachers are NOT paying for breakfast for your son, then why are you commenting?”

“This is for forandaft in response to what u have said I have got all all what u have stated plus I give my child breakfast but he refuse it so haves it in school I have given him breakfast to take into school to share with the other children if us parents was told about the situation I'm sure they would off respond and would have given I only found out when my son asked me to get bread and butter to take school and I rang um to find out why and that was when they told me how can parents help if they not been told”

“This is for forandaft in response to what u have said I have got all all what u have stated plus I give my child breakfast but he refuse it so haves it in school I have given him breakfast to take into school to share with the other children if us parents was told about the situation I'm sure they would off respond and would have given I only found out when my son asked me to get bread and butter to take school and I rang um to find out why and that was when they told me how can parents help if they not been told”

“I have 3 children 1 of my children goes to this school it a fab school I've sent my son in wit breakfast food plus I get up at 6.30 every morning to make sure my kids have breakfast but my son won't have it as he prefers to have it in school wit his friends I'm sure if the school asked parents to send some breakfast food in I'm sure they would but they have not asked anybody I only found out when my son asked me to get sum bread and butter to take in and I rang the school to find out so it not the parents fault it the school for not asking for help from parents”

“I have 3 children 1 of my children goes to knowle dge it a fab school I've sent my son in wit breakfast food plus I get up at 6.30 every morning to make sure my kids have breakfast but my son won't have it as he prefers to have it in school wit his friends I'm sure if the school asked parents to send some breakfast food in I'm sure they would but they have not asked anybody I only found out when my son asked me to get sum bread and butter to take in and I rang the school to find out so it not the parents fault it the school for not askin for help from parents”

“I have 3 children 1 of my children goes to knowle dge it a fab school I've sent my son in wit breakfast food plus I get up at 6.30 every morning to make sure my kids have breakfast but my son won't have it as he prefers to have it in school wit his friends I'm sure if the school asked parents to send some breakfast food in I'm sure they would but they have not asked anybody I only found out when my son asked me to get sum bread and butter to take in and I rang the school to find out so it not the parents fault it the school for not askin for help from parents”

“I do wonder what on earth is going on here and what the "real" story is behind what has been presented in the media.

I'm not disputing what has already been said about the social and educational value of ensuring that children have a good breakfast before coming to school and having this in a safe and collective way.

But, what are the reasons behind the *need* for this to happen at the expense of the school on this level? I'd think it's a rarity for schools to offer clubs of this nature at their own expense, the majority are offered in partnership with an Out of School Club which is exclusively funded by parents who are going to work.

Why is this one different?”

“This has been a quite serious distortion of reality that more than 1 media outlet are responsible for.
Let us first be clear that it is vital for children to start the school day with a sensible breakfast inside them.
When this story was first run by radio Bristol this morning the vast majority of listeners phoned in to say that it was the responsibility of parents -end of.
Whilst this may be supported by many let us first be clear that there are a variety of reasons why children attend school breakfast clubs( and that schools have to deal with reality.)
1 Because parents need to get to work and this is effectively child care.
2 Because the school encourages it as part of socialisation (given as a reason to the council by the head of this school)
3 Because the school is concerned about the child getting a fair start.
4 Because it suits the parents.

Whatever the reason or combination of reasons the child should not suffer.

I make no criticism of the staff for having a good heart to look after children in their care, which of course teachers have done in many variations for many years.

I have a serious concern though with the message put out.

Schools ,rightly or wrongly ,have had a budget devolved to them in April 2012, which previously went to the council to deal with extra hours activities. This of course includes breakfast clubs.

The pupil premium was introduced last year by the new giovernment to address educational inequality. It was £400+ per pupil last year and this year is £600+ and increases next year.The school chooses how it spends this money for the benefit of the child.

The majority of pupils attending this school qualify for the pupil premium and it is paid directly to the school and the school must show how they are using it to address the problems of disadvantaged pupils.

I am a governer at my locval school which provides facilities and many of our pupils qualify for pupil premium.

The cost of the food is approx.£60 per year per pupil.So absolutely no need for staff whip rounds.

Why are either

a The school misrepresenting the problem

b the media are misrepresenting the school.

I intervened on radio Bristol this morning to inject a couple of facts but it was most unfortunate that the BBC firstly asked me to do an interview for points west and then cancelled that at the last minute when it was clear that it woould scupper the "poverty" story they were running which has been repeated here.”