in thinking that breakfast clubs are for working parents

[nametaken]

and not for non-working parents who can't be bothered to organise breakfast for their dcs.

[Dynamicnanny]

No they are for all - otherwise it's discrimination

[LyraSilvertongue]

I can't imagine why anyone would want to put their children in a breakfast club if they're not working.

[McDreamy]

Agree with DN

[JodieG1]

Dd went oa breakfast club while I was pregnant with ds2. I was on bedrest after my waters broke at 22 weeks and dh had to work so the only way she would get to school (with dh not being late every day) was going to the breakfast club. Once I had ds2 she stopped attending.

[nametaken]

Seriously?

My bro and his girlfriend send their kids here when they can't be arsed to organise breakfast - they don't work at all and half the time they just cannot be arsed to go get bread and milk for breakfast so they just send kids to breakfast club.

I always thought the whole point of breakfast club was to accommodate the needs of working parents. Why would anyone who doesn't need to be somewhere send their kids.

[SmugColditz]

Some children live in such horrific circumstances that it's the only way they would get breakfast - should we punish the children for having incompetent parents?

[SmugColditz]

No, the whole point of breakfast club is NOT for working parents, why is having a job the only acceptable difficulty faced by a family? The whole point of breakfast club is for children who would otherwise struggle to give them breakfast for whatever reason.

[lucyellensmum]

My DD always went to school without breakfast, because she wouldn't eat it - If there were a breakfast club at school i would have sent her, she would have probably eaten it among her friends. DD2 will more than likely be going, but i will be working.

Blimey, does the politics ever end?

[nametaken]

Oh dear RubyRioja, I hope I haven't struck a raw nerve here.

SmugColditz you are right of course - you can't punish children just because you don't like the behaviour of the adults.

Just wish I could give lazy arse of a brother a humongous kick.

[LIZS]

isn't it to promote the idea of a decent breakfast for those who may not otherwise get one, for whatever reason, or whose parents need to be elsewhere early in the day, thus setting children up ready to learn.

[NorthernLurker]

I used the breakfast club for a while when I was on different hours. I have to say though mychildren always had breakfast before we left the house - with a 15 minute cycle to school I didn't think it was on to turn them out totally starving! They then had 'bonus' toast and crumpets there which they thought was a great deal. It wasn't hugely expensive but it's not cheap either and so I can't think why you would use it in preference for buying your own cornflakes?

[mrz]

Breakfast clubs aren't for parents they are for children ...simple! Many children arrive at school without having a proper breakfast for lots of different reasons but for many children it is also a "social" occasion where they enjoy eating with their friends and perhaps eating things they wouldn't have tried or been given in the home.

[alittleone2]

Message withdrawn

[PeaGreene]

the staff at my son's breakfast club seem to think it's just an additional play opportunity.

I'd been asking DS about what he eats there - very little, but there's great lego... So on delivering him there recently, I happened to tell him in front of the staff to remember to eat something. the woman said said "oh, hasn't he had anything yet?"

[alittleone2]

Message withdrawn

[nametaken]

Because I'm bored and I wouldn't have got so many replies if I'd worded it that way

[LyraSilvertongue]

So can people on a low income send their children to breakfast clubs for free, like free school meals?

[alittleone2]

Message withdrawn

[PeaGreene]

In Cardiff (might be all Wales I think), breakfast clubs are all free regardless of income.

I wondered how nametaken's sibling & partner get away with the intermittent attendance.

[misdee]

my children want to go to breakfast club and afterschool club but neither dh or i currently work.

this is why i keep saying no to them [sighs] they just want to spend extra time with their friends.