Please Sir, we want more school dinner
Children in Mid Wales are coming home from school hungry because they have been banned from having seconds of school dinners, a governor has claimed.
Pupils aged 11 are being given the same portions as three-year-olds, leaving them hungry and snacking before evening meals, while doughnuts and meringues have replaced fruit-filled crumbles at pudding time.
Anna Pryce, who is a governor and mother of two children aged 10 and seven at Ysgol Meifod, near Welshpool, called the move "madness" and said children in year six are coming home "starving" at the end of the school day.
She said: "We have got an absolutely superb dinner lady at Ysgol Meifod who goes above and beyond to look after the children, but her hands are tied by these regulations.
"You have children as young as three being given exactly the same portions as those who are 11 in year six.
"It is overwhelming for the little ones and the older ones are finishing their meal still hungry.
"My own daughter, who is in year six, is coming home starving at the end of the day while I know the little ones see the size of the portions, feel overwhelmed and struggle to eat it before they even tuck in."
Mrs Pryce also said that she is angry that pupils have seen their choice of puddings – usually a fruit crumble – replaced with sugary treats.
She added: "For their meal children are typically given meat and vegetables and are not allowed seconds of this, yet they are now given doughnuts or meringues for pudding instead of crumbles, which are full of fruit. It just does not make sense.
"I know that crumbles themselves are not exactly healthy but I would prefer them to be having something with fruit in.
"At primary school age, they are growing so fast and I know from experience of doing parties that sometimes you just can't feed them enough. One lad I know of can eat eight Weetabix for breakfast.
"Giving them these portions is just leaving them go hungry and I would like to see something done as soon as possible."
A spokesman for Powys County Council said the dishes on offer to pupils met all Welsh Assembly requirements, including portion size, and second helpings could now be served if there is food left over.
Claire Evans, Shropshire Council spokesman, said that schools in the county made their own policy on whether seconds were allowed.
A spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Council said: "There is not a policy not to give out seconds in the area, but we feel portions are adequate."
