Primary school pupils in Wales are being denied school meals because their accounts are empty as schools deal with huge total parent meal debts, WalesOnline has found.
A headteacher who was forced to backtrack after warning parents of pupils 'more than a penny in debt' that they wouldn't be fed has thrown a spotlight on an issue for schools, councils and parents across the nation.
We have obtained figures from local authorities showing that across Wales, parents are hundreds of thousands of pounds overdrawn in their children's school meals account - leaving schools and councils with a significant problem.
And parents say they have been patronised when they are facing very difficult situations through no fault of their own.
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A single mother from Swansea, who is in work and not on Universal Credit, said her ex partner had struggled to pay for their eight year old daughter’s school meals who was then refused food.
The mother, who did not want to be named fearing a backlash from her child’s school, said: “They rang me to say they were not going to give her lunch because the money has not been paid and told me to bring in a packed lunch straight away.
“It was very patronising. It’s disgusting. She is eight years old. This has happened to a few other parents.”
The message from the school said: “Hello, please could you top up the sQuid dinner money account for (your daughter) as it is in arrears. If the account is in arrears the class teacher will not be able to order a meal for your child and a packed lunch will have to be brought into school until payment is made."
Local authorities implement differing policies and some leave the decision to individual schools. Some have a cashless pre-payment system meaning no debts can be accrued and some councils have the school meal debts transferred from the school to them.
We asked all councils how much they were owed in school food debts. So far only just over half of Wales' 22 local authorities have replied and the total figure is already £176,900 - suggesting the real figure will be well above £200k.
Policies vary around Wales on how long a child is allowed to be in debt before food is withheld or not. Systems for paying also vary. Many run a cashless system with pre payment with some agreeing a certain amount of debit of between five and 10 meals.
Last week Gwynedd Council apologised after a headteacher told parents that children more than 1p in debt would not be fed. The council said it was reviewing guidance and its policy was that no pupil should go hungry.
Swansea Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Black said parents have contacted him saying headteachers have told them their children won’t be served food until they pay. That’s despite the council’s policy of giving schools discretion to allow a debit of five meals.
Cllr Black said low income families who have to pay for school meals are under pressure and called for those on universal Credit to be made eligible for free school meals.
Swansea’s policy is that children can have a debit of up to five meals per child giving the headteacher time to discuss the situation with parents. Parents pay via an online system called sQuid which they top up by card.
Although the council insisted its policy is that no child should be denied food if the account is empty, they are in some cases claimed Cllr Black.
“There are a number of schools who do not operate the system in this way, and who will not allow a child to have a meal if they are in debit. That is something I cannot support.
“It is my assertion that not every school is using their discretion.”
Cllr Black, who represents the Cwmbwrla ward said he knew from messages from parents that some children, including at primary level, are being refused food if they’re in debt.
“I have had parents come to me to say their child has not been allowed to have school meals because their account is not in credit.
“Not all schools are exercising their five meals discretion.
He has asked the council to investigate and raised the matter this week at Swansea’s Scrutiny Programme Committee, which he chairs.
He told the committee: “There has been controversy in one north Wales authority where the headteacher effectively denied pupils accessing meals because they are 1p in debt. That’s actually our policy too, our policy includes a leeway for heads but that leeway is not being exercised in all schools. In some schools parents are being told if your child is in debt they won’t be served food.
“I have had parents come to me to say their child is not being allowed to have meals because their account is not in credit.”
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