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School blasts parents for sending child to school with cold McDonald’s Happy Meal for packed lunch

A school in Kent has slammed the parents of a child who was sent to school with a cold McDonald’s Happy Meal for their packed lunch.

A newsletter sent to parents whose children are at Byron Primary School in Gillingham highlighted several examples of poor and “unacceptable” packed lunches which teachers discovered children had been sent to the school with.

These included the Happy Meal bought the previous evening, while another was packed off with just two bags of crisps and a crisp sandwich.

The school marked down the parents for packing the “extreme” and “worrying” lunches for their youngsters – including one tot that was given chocolate cake, a chocolate bar and a chocolate sandwich.

One pupil was given four yogurts and a packet of smarties while another had to make do with just one chocolate muffin, one chocolate roll and a bar of chocolate.

One child came to the school with crisps and a crisp sandwich (SWNS)
One child came to the school with crisps and a crisp sandwich (SWNS)

The sinful treats were highlighted in the newsletter sent out by headteacher Jon Carthy last week.

He wrote: “In the past few weeks there have been a number of worrying packed lunches brought into school.

“Whilst extreme and funny to read on paper, I must make this clear THESE ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE examples of a balanced packed lunch.

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“Children work very hard at school and a balanced meal at lunch time helps provide concentration for the afternoon.”

He reminded parents of government guidelines for packed lunches which includes one portion of fruit and vegetable or salad every day, meat, fish or a source of non-dairy protein, oily fish and starchy foods such as bread or pasta.

Mr Carthy added: “If we feel as though any child is not getting a regularly balanced meal, we will contact you and offer you advice.”

The school found one pupil with only chocolate in their lunchbox (SWNS)
The school found one pupil with only chocolate in their lunchbox (SWNS)

A mother of a pupil at the school posted a picture of the letter on social media with the caption: “Never thought I could be so appalled yet so amused at the same time.”

She said: “I found it shocking more than anything that some parents think that’s acceptable and it is clearly a reflection on their diets too.

“We’ve all woken up in the morning and realised we don’t have stuff for packed lunch or money for school dinners but surely there was something else in the cupboards.

“And, McDonald’s happy meals cost more than school dinners anyway. The school is clearly trying to educate the parents which I think is brilliant.”

Top pic: SWNS