School meals face the axe at 60 Shropshire schools
More than 60 Shropshire primary schools could have to axe hot school meals by April because of budget shortfalls, council bosses warned today.
Shropshire Council chiefs also said there was an ‘inevitable’ risk to catering jobs in schools which decide not to continue providing a meals service, after new funding guidelines were passed down from central Government.
The council’s Shire Services currently provides each of the 131 primary schools in Shropshire with a school meals service but from April the Government is changing the way it funds school meals as part of wider reforms.
The county primary schools, which cater for up to 20,000 pupils, will now have to apply directly to the Government for funding which will be calculated on how many pupils they have and how many are eligible for free meals.
It will mean about half of these schools, particularly those in rural areas, face a shortfall that could lead them to scrap school meals.
Those affected by the changes could also decide to run the service independently or with other schools.
A council spokesman said: “Based on current costs and existing pupil and free school meal numbers, about half of Shropshire Council’s 131 primary schools are likely to have insufficient funding to cover the cost of their current school meals service.”
Councillor Cecilia Motley said: “These changes are essentially an unforeseen circumstance of the Government’s school funding reforms and, as the council is no longer able to retain the funding centrally, we really don’t have any choice about whether we follow them or not.
“Yet again, it is a case of rural counties getting the thin end of the wedge as these changes will pose a particular difficulty for small schools in more isolated areas.”
Comments for: "School meals face the axe at 60 Shropshire schools"
Kay Thomas
Whatever next? What the hell is this country coming to? That we can't even feed our children. It actually scares me! God help us:(
helen
Well said, Kay. It appalls me that while most families give most help to those who need most support and put their kids first, the government and council we are saddled with don't seem to understand this. It's not about money, it's about priorities. The same councillors who accept free iPads and £10,000s in so-called expenses have decided that school dinners are an expensive luxury we can't afford! It's disgusting.
Archie
Its actually a central government decision (from Labour, hence the silence from their councillors despite this being knowledge for a while) not a council one. That said the council could choose to put money toward propping up the shortfall
mike davis
my daughter has just started school and I find this absolutely shocking!! we will be back to the dark ages soon, its about time the council and government starts to spend its money on stuff that matter instead of sending money abroad to feed other countries children when we cant even feed out own!! if this actually happens there will be uproar, its time these people get a grip of what they are paid to do!! idiots!!
Devilschair
Remember this at the next election. Ask them when they come to your door to rank importance spending - if they don't put absolute basics like this near the top then to them to change it or you will vote for another one who does.
Email them, attend meetings, buttonhole them in the street - if you feel this is wrong - which it is, let them feel uncomfortable about it.
Whatever the reason - this idea is short-termism like much else these days. If we can't feed our young then its going to affect their health for the rest of their lives - and therefore they will be using NHS facilities far more and costing the country far more than a few hot meals at the moment.
H. St. John Peasbody
It's about time parents got their priorities right and fed their own children instead of expecting meals to be provided free of charge at schools.
ANDREW FINCH
The meals are not free , subsidized yes free no
Mat
It is not about 'Free' school meals but the whole catering service being lost. Primary schools of a smaller size usually don't catering facilities onsite, so the council cooks it elsewhere and delivers it hot to the school, a bit like a large scale meals on wheels. All children have access to it and those eligible for FSMs don't pay for it. This will mean that the schools will have to look to a private company to offer the service, which might not be cost effective for the quality of produce delivered.
H. St. John Peasbody
Alternatively, a private company might be much more cost effective and the quality of the produce delivered might significantly improve.
sue
H St john peasbody have you tried a school lately? £2 for a hot dinner and pudding using local suppliers for friut veg and meat all cooked fresh everyday
me
is that coming from a wealthy person, not some one struggling on benefits!!!
twiggo
Meals on Wheels were scrapped for elderly people, now school meals for our kids. Whether or not this is Government policy, Councils have the autonomy to choose which services they prioritise and which they don't and our Council doesn't seem to give a **** about the things we hold dear for those members of our society who need services the most.
Oh well, at least Councillors could enjoy their Champagne lunch at the Shrewsbury Flower Show - every cloud......
Sunflower
Whilst I find it hard to contradict your sentiment about champagne lunches - absolutely - this isn't actually the work of your beloved Council. School meals have always been funded by Central Government and still will be - they have changed the way that meals will be funded and who will receive the payment not the Council.
twiggo
I understand the point that you are making but Shropshire Councillors are happy to spend public money on all sorts of things that it doesn't "have to" (Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Theatre Severn, Porthill Bridge replacement boat service).
It's about priorities and political will and, in some cases, whose ward certain things fall within. If the will is there, the money flows.
Brewer
I am not clear what the problem is here. Government will still provide funding, on the basis of school numbers and those entitled to free meals.
Why is that a bad thing?
twiggo
the bad thing is that Councillors have money for things that they like (flower show tickets, iPads, posh offices for Kim Ryley) but not for the things we need
and the obvious answer to why is that a bad thing is that lots of kids will not get a hot meal at lunch time (for some it's the one hot meal they have a day) and that dinner ladies will be shoved onto the dole
helen
Brewer-
Because I suspect that 'funding changes' and 'wider reforms' are euphemisms for spending cuts. And Cecilia Motley's hand-wringing in response is Shropshire Council's way of letting us know they are not going to do anything to protect our services.
Archie
Mr Peabody, have you had a meal provided by the private company in schools or one provided by the council to make that statement? I've had both so am in a position to have an opinion. The current meals are a high quality at a reasonable price. My experience of privately provided meals are that they cost more, taste less and are dripping with grease.
The majority of schools are so small a private company simply would not touch them because they'd not make a profit. A joined up meal service like we have sees the schools that make a profit subsidising the majority that don't. Generally at an overall loss.
The loss is picked up by the council. But at the end of the day public services cost money. If they all made a profit there would be no need for taxation as they'd be self funding. That's the reason they're public not private.
If left in the hands of the private sector you'd not get a better service, you'd pay more and get less, if you're lucky enough to get anything at all
julian
I'm with Brewer. Article isn't very clear. So the schools currently have to buy in meals from Shropshire Council, but they are now going to have to buy from central government. Cannot say I am surprised that Shropshire Council are bleating about it. Question is, do they have a genuine concern for the children, or just for the loss of their very lucrative contract to provide meals? I suspect the latter, but the article doesn't attempt any analysis of the full story. Shame. Maybe the newspaper version will be better.
ph7
In the good old days, school meals were organised via the Council's education department and like other non teaching functions managed centrally. This was funded wia the rates and the block grant. A service with economies of scale could be provided.
Then schools were handed all funding and had full responsibility for all management functions. This meant headteachers role was expanded into that of a general manager. Each school was allocated a budget which was handed over for them to manage themselves.
So the money was given to/collected by the Council and handed over to the head teacher.
The head teacher and his newly recruited admin team then selected who they purchased the school meals service from. Most chose the local authority via Shire Services, as did some schools in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
So small schools that may have shared a kitchen with the local secondary school had to buy in catering and build/make arrangements for kitchens.
From having a strong say in the provision of school services, most councils are now just funding channels for schools.
Robin Hood
So if schools "choose" not to provide meals, it will be them that makes the lunchtime staff redundant and deprives kids of hot food.
Typical Tory SC, "not me Gov'nor" - they don't have the guts to say that they've decided not to make up the shortfall and leaving schools to do the dirty work.
Lego
Shropshire council could save an absolute fortune if they turned down the heating in there offices. I'm unfortunately out of work at the moment and have to 'sign on' each time I go to job centre plus the heat in the building is over powering and guess what - most of the windows are open to no doubt cool the place down!
Double Dee
I don't understand how Shropshire Councils heating bill has any affect on the warmth in the Job Centre.
Richard
Job centre is civil service not council.
Want to comment on council heating go to their offices and freeze your rocks off ;-)
ph7
Their not there and the Jobcentre is not a Shropshire Council Office, it's run by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Sunflower
If you want the real story go directly to the Council newsroom site where you can read the entire story and not just the edited highlights published here. Shropshire Council hasn't axed anything. The Government has changed the way school meals are funded. Instead of all the money going to the Council, who then made sure hot meals were available for all that were entitled and wanted them, the money will go straight to schools who can choose whether or not to provide hot meals. If your school 'axes' hot meals lobby them, and Central Government who made the change.
Shrewsbury Mum
Sunflower,
For a start, Shropshire Council's website is not a unbiased source- it's bound to say 'it's not our fault'. Second, it's the council spokesperson who says that a reduction in funding under the new rules means that half Shropshire schools are unlikely to be able to provide hot meals in the future. The Government isn't just changing the way the funding is provided as you suggest, it looks like it is cutting the funding as well. Meanwhile, the council has decided not to help those schools out who will no longer be able to provide hot meals- it is clear from the council's announcement that as far as they are concerned these schools will be on their own. Not sure how you make the leap from that to schools 'choosing' whether or not to 'axe' hot meals- or what good lobbying them would do. We saw it with the school closures and we see it again now- the Government and Shropshire Council try to pass the buck over their terrible policies, but they are hand in glove and neither of them gives a stuff about our kids.
Andy Hemming
Your absolutely right. I suspect there is a hidden agenda here from Shropshire Council. Schools who do not have Kitchens will probably lose students, The children who qualify for Free School meals will look at other schools and be moved. So effectively the Council can then look at closing more Schools!!!
Do not trust anything coming out of the mouths of Shropshire Councillors.
Dan
My partents paid for my school meals.... i work hard to pay for the food i consume... why don't the parents that are capable of working - pay for there kids meals!
Or if you cant afford to feed them... dont breed them! SIMPLES ;)
ANDREW FINCH
Why do you think the people are not paying for their school meals?your parents paid i assume for subsidized school meals ?.
I would imagine dependent on the head some schools will scrap school dinners and pocket the money for other things,as many do with regards the funding they get for so many school trips , out they send the so called amusingly " Voluntary" contribution letter on this occasion it will be packed lunch required every day letter.
Must say prisoners do get subsidized and better free meals ,odd isn't it.
Joanne
Perhaps its time to drop the idea that a school meal should include sponge pudding and custard quite so many times a week?
ph7
A lot of hard work has gone into the nutritional content of school meals over the last few years. The kids no longer get sponge and custard a lot, nor do they get semolina (frog spawn) or pink custard. In fact, they are only allowed sausages twice every three weeks. Shropshire meal standards operate on a 4 week menu which is nutritionally balanced and regularly sampled for quality.
Atcham Al
What's wrong with Semolina? I love it.
Joanne
Sorry for the misunderstanding - Maybe Shropshire County schools are different. In Telford we get lots of sponge and custard! Also muffins, mouse, cookies and other ways of serviing fat with sugar!. My boy loves it. I just wonder if perhaps simplifying this part of the menu would help to cut costs and improve our children's health.
Joanne
Actually - I mean Mousse not Mouse! Telford are't that bad!
Ian
It is disgusting, perhaps the government should rein in some of the foriegn aid and put us brits first
Devilschair
Foreign aid is something different, in plain terms its buying friends and influence - which, if we don't keep doing it - British people will be in danger abroad and at home when others pay for and influence against us (for bad people to do bad things).
Aside from the human support to starving people with governments that have cut themselves/or are so small that they don't have the structures to support human beings (UK in 10years time?).
Jezebel
Ian, I totally agree, isn't there a phrase" charity begins at home"??!!!
Well lets start keeping all this foreign aid for ourselves and put things right in our own backyard rather than let it go to some African country where by the time it gets to grass roots it has all been syphoned off by the crooked government, or is it just our own government that is crooked............
Double Dee
My belief is that every child should have a free school meal no matter what their background; properly invest in them and ensure that they have at least one healthy nutritious meal in their bellies a day; it matters not how well off or poor some parents are there are examples across the board of children eating absolute garbage; take the money from Child Tax Credits if they must but ensure all children are fed properly.
Investing in our children should be at the absolute forefront of Government policy; ensuring we have an educated, healthy next generation is essential to ensure we don't end up in the mess we are again. Reforming children's services should be done with a clear vision and dedication, not an eye on the balance sheet.
Brian Thompson
I'm not sure of the politics around school meals but the council do have money to spend.
Let it not go un noticed that this week the council members will be giving the go ahead to loan the new IP & E company 500k, a figure which is sure to rise and to be paid back over 18 months, at what interest rate I ask.
Why can it not be borrowed from the banks like all other companys have to do. If the company fails will we get our money back or will they be yet more cuts because of lack of funds
jeffb
Ibet that the houses of parliament have their meals subsidised, not available for us plebs.
Time's Up
Cecilia Motley is a Tory councillor. The Government is a Tory controlled government. However this is spun, the buck stops with the Tories- they are the ones cutting school meals, and they are the ones who need to go.
chrisdavis
I hate to be a drag, but I don't suppose cooking for a local school is something that we common plebs could do voluntarily and even (gasp) run at cost or a little profit? Or is health and safety and EU hygiene inspectorate and forms in triplicate and certification of no undesirable elements providing the service a pre requisite ? - a two or three month advance notice pre requisite? Or would it bring about mass protest by disgruntled cooks? Or are there a million reasons why anything obvious and cheap can't be done?
Robin Hood
The economy isn't going to recover if more and more essential services are provided by people working for nothing (volunteers), even if there were enough people available to do this free work.
Jaykay
Schools will not "choose" to scrap hot school meals they will just have to offer them at an unsubsidised price which will be at a cost most parents will not want to pay. Current cost is £2.00 per child per day. I can't argue that it is the parents responsibility to pay for and supply good food for their children but in reality some children may have their only hot, nutritious meal within the school setting. Also schools do not get "funding" for so many school trips. They get a small contribution towards transport each year which doesn't cover the rising cost of transport. The cost of a 26 seater coach can cost as much as £150.00 for a local trip. Schools cannot force parents to pay which is why the contributions are voluntary. If the school can't raise enough money from voluntary contributions the trip doesn't go ahead. Until you have worked in a school you don't realise how little money schools budgets are shrinking in Shropshire contrary to Government statements.
Andy Hemming
What happens to the children who qualify for free school meals! in effect the most vulnerable. This meal could well be the only hot meal children in low income families get.
Has anyone noticed that these days it is Councillors who make the press statements no longer the appropriate officers.... Councillor Mottley Portfolio Holder for Flourishing Communities (Having a laugh I think!) says it is central Government that has caused this issue, always the same the local Councillors try and distance themselves from these issues to try and protect their image approaching elections. But Councillors you are all of the same political party and cannot distance yourselves when it suits.
This would not have come out into the public domain if Baron Von Barrow and his co-horts could have avoided it. They would have much preferred to have announced this after the May elections when they can sit comfy for another term of office. As someone who works within Shropshire Council I am only too aware of officers being told that Members want no bad news stories to get out ahead of the elections.
There is a lock down on statements coming out of Shirehall, if an MP makes an enquiry that requires a letter it has to be seen by Keith Barrow before it is sent. There is a whole department dealing with communications, why telling the truth is a simple thing to do for anyone.
Voters of Shropshire you really need to start challenging your local councillors for public statements on what they are committed too and what they will be doing because come May there will be major bad news stories coming up daily.
Can I suggest people have a look at how much is paid to Councillors and then compare it to the number of Attendances they have made at council meetings. If we got rid of them all and employed a Decent Chief Exec we would more than save enough to pay for School meals or save Day Centres. Don't be fooled that they are there for the good of their community, its the money folks, after all who else can be guaranteed a job for 4yrs!!!
I can hear Councillors saying but there is more to our job than meetings we deal with issues for our constituents.. Yes like heck they do, I am aware of a number of my neighbours who have given up trying to get a call back from our Councillor. But I guess they will all come round soon on the charm offensive.
helen
'...local Councillors try and distance themselves from these issues to try and protect their image approaching elections. But Councillors you are all of the same political party and cannot distance yourselves when it suits.'
An example- a member of the Cabinet from Shrewsbury is apparently so concerned about the lack of secondary school places locally that he has been putting leaflets round his area to highlight his worries about children not getting into either of the 2 local schools in his ward. The same councillor voted through the closure of The Wakeman. Vote them out.
twiggo
"what happens to the kids who get free school meals" - they are the kids of poor people so this Government (and this Council too, they are the same colour and are embracing the Government's agenda with vigour) doesn't care about them
if people are poor enough to qualify for free school meals they are not going to be able to afford to transport their kids to another school, potentially many miles away, to get their meal entitlement
so providing lunch for their kids will be another financial burden for those who already struggle to meet their existing commitments
Grand Moff Tarkin
"Please Sir, could I have some.....food Sir"
Jaykay
Where did this story come from? The Star was printed before Head teachers and Governors had been to the breifing about this issue. Moles in the council offices methinks.