Hull heads block £1 school lunches plan

“I fully agree with Ice warrior and cantstandu is obviously out of this world people didn't vote for Labour I for one didn't I voted against this government and now wish I hadn't having heard the rubbish this Labour council are spouting. All they have done is put off the inevitable they are planning to cut jobs just like the last lot they promised to keep people employed and have lied. Whats more I do think the uniform allowance should be kept for those in difficulties at an increased level not cut and don't understand if you can afford to lower school meal prices then don't you can afford to keep the school uniform allowance for those in need.”

“Colininglis you demonstarte nothing for contempt for Head Teachers in your response. You really must be a mate of our Mr Gove, he talks a load of tosh as well.
the reality yes labour won the election, mind you that says nothing you had no opposition. You could put a red rossette on a hat stand in Hull and the people of Hull would vote for it! In saying that your leader Councillor Brady is one of the few politicians i have any time for, he actually talks sense unlike you.
You clearly know absolutely nothing about the way schools are run if you say headteachers are not accountable and as a Chair of Governors one one large school and a governor of one of the best schools in Hull i do know how schools are run.
Heads do know whaty their students go thorough and how many are suffering which is why they need to obtain the best deal for thier schools they can, let them get on with it!”

“Hull people voted for this and the Head teachers who dont live in Hull ignored us all, who do they really think they are.”

“You can see can't you, nothing to help those in difficulty they are going use this money to offset the deficit rather than help those in need. They would rather give money to those who are working than those who in these bad times are really down on their heels. Cllr Inglis you are once again in the wrong and most people can see how silly your idea is, it is time you and yours developed some compassion rather than thinking you won because of your ideas, you won because of a backlash against the Government, not for your manifesto.”

“Can I suggest Cllrs Webster and Brady that you instead of stopping uniform allowance which is for those who are poor and automatically registers you for free school meals when claimed. You bring it back and pay £30 in the summer and £20 at New Year and £20 at Easter so that all those on benefits can claim some help and we are fully registered for to get the pupil premium, rather than helping those with a job!”

“This story is completely inaccurate. Primary Headteachers agreed to the reduction of school dinners to £1 last January.”

“@David-Nivea...

That one worked on JetmansDad. I think you upset him a bit. Could you use two, or maybe, even three sentences next time?

Regardless of whether we agree with you or not - you do have a right to post and comment - don't you?”

“If the level of Pupil Premium funding is affected by the numbers claiming Free School Meals then how does a reduction in price for those still paying have any impact at all. The argument is illogical. Those who can claim the meals for free and do because they are on certain benefits will surely continue to do so even if the price is only 1p, unless they are incredibly altruistic!
The reality is that Labour won a majority at the last election with, as part of their programme, a pledge to reduce the price of Primary School meals, no matter how much some commentators on here dislike that democratic outcome. Headteachers are elected by nobody and whilst they are theoretically responsible to their Governing bodies, anyone with any experience of that system would know it is a somewhat questionable relationship. For them to effectively veto the implementation of a Manifesto commitment is an affront to Democracy.
The real impact of this is on working families struggling to keep their heads above water in these difficult economic times and Headteachers more than any others should recognise that fact, since they see such people everyday, even if their considerable salaries do insulate them somewhat from the economic realities many of those parents face.
Those saying that if you can't pay for your children don't have them, are putting an incredibly fatuous argument and should really work harder on developing a little humanity. Circumstances change in people's lives without their being able to control that and in any case is having children to be restricted only to the rich?
I had hoped that the debate with Headteachers about the benefits to children's education generally of a healthy nutritious meal at lunch-time had been won but it seems there is still some way to go.”

“Yes David_Nivea, and a lot can happen in the five years between having them and them starting school. With the rise in unemployment, and reduction in working hours in this area over the last few years, there are many parents who were more than capable of feeding their children when they had them but now find themselves struggling to do so as prices continue to rise and income falls.

All of life cannot be boiled down into single sentence comments on newspaper websites, you know.”

“Don't have 'em if you can't afford to feed 'em, which is a fairly basic requirement of offspring production.”