Talk:Free school meal

The UK government has worked with many charitable organisations along side Marcus Rashford to help tackle child hunger in Northen Ireland. The Jessica Pennick act was founded on the 21st November 2021 by Boris Johnston to fund free school meals for a poverty ridden school girl who’s family can’t afford to feed her. But thanks to the help of the local Milreagh community and charities, Jessica Pennick is now able to have a hot meal every other day. A quote from the Northern Irish Loyalist whilst being interviewed by the BBC “Am well happy so a am, I always felt embarrassed not being able to afford the lovely looking chicken kormas our dinner ladies serve, but now I don’t have that worry anymore,” these truly inspiring words from this poor girl who has financially struggled all her life just shows us that we are not alone and always have a shoulder to cry on. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.11.229.186 (talk) 18:13, 13 September 2022 (UTC) Why is there no mention of the highly sucessful Brazilian school meal program in here? 2001:1284:F013:5818:6DE6:6B6E:1FBF:631D (talk) 20:27, 24 May 2019 (UTC)

I think this would be better if it had a citation: "studies have shown that many of those entitled to free meals do not take them and it can have a negative effect on those that do." What studies show this? What percentage don't take them up? 217.43.203.144 15:03, 29 April 2007 (UTC)
 * Agreed. It is originally from the book: Will McMahon, Tim Marsh (1999). Filling the Gap: free school meals, nutrition and poverty. Child Poverty Action Group, 48. ISBN 1-901698-25-4. Can't put a number on it at the moment though, nor do i have access to the book.   Can anyone help?Pluke 20:58, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

'''What about the IPS School lunch program? Who came up with their lunches ?'''
 * Hi there, good to see you are taking an interest in the subject, not quite sure what the question is about, could you please rephrase it? Pluke 21:41, 16 March 2006 (UTC)

Free school meals in Finland for everyone
I think you should mention the fact that in Finland the government provides free school meals to all children!!!
 * Sounds like a good idea! any chance you can get a source for this? Pluke 20:52, 11 September 2006 (UTC)
 * Have added reference, based on CPAG documents in Scotland Tafkam 14:03, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

Margaret McMillan in Bradford
i think more could be added in the history about how Margaret McMillan introduced the first free school meals to the poor in Bradford in 1894 and then with her sister Rachel fought to lead the campaign for school meals leading to the 1906 provision of school meals act.

i got this information from: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Wmcmillan.htm

Shall i try and add it myself? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Allie cabab (talk • contribs) 21:51, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

Refrences
The article lacks references for the final secctions.--88.111.123.155 (talk) 17:36, 28 February 2013 (UTC)

Neutrality
I've marked this with Template:Globalize/UK. As mentioned on this talk page previously, Finland also offers free school meals, and it's currently not even mentioned. Debates, public opinion and test programs for similar offerings in the US, Canada and other areas should also be presented in depth, and some of the superfluous UK-specific detail removed from this article. For example, the whole "Qualification for a free school meal" section currently reads like a government produced manual for UK parents, rather than a neutral encyclopedic article.

Failing this, the article should at least be renamed as "Free school meals in the United Kingdom" or something similar, to warrant its exclusive focus in practises in the UK. --88.112.175.211 (talk) 13:34, 3 May 2013 (UTC)

Free school meals?
I think the author of this article needs to double check the legislation. The 1944 Act did not make it an entitlement for all children to receive a free school meal. It imposed a duty on Local Authorities to provide a meal to school children and that the cost of which should be defrayed to the parent. Only in exceptional circumstances where the parents could not pay would the LA be able to provide free meals and recoup the cost from the rates. The 1906 Act did not give power to provide free meals either, it required LAs to recoup the cost of the meal from the parents unless they could not pay in which case the LA had to apply to the Board of Education to seek authorisation to utilise the rates to cover costs. The history of school meals, in the vast majority of texts, is inaccurate. Seek the primary sources! The secondary sources are all wrong! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.101.234.198 (talk) 09:32, 19 August 2013 (UTC)