School dinners

The amount of changes and risk assessments we have to do is just unbelievable but it has to be done. I don’t think people understand just what’s involved.

One thing though, please don’t think that we give out food that looks like the recent photos in the media. That would certainly not leave my kitchen. But this is what happens (in my opinion) when you start turning schools into academies and employing privately run companies to provide school meals.

There’s a reason businesses are in business and that reason, is to make money. Education (again, in my opinion) should not be based around making money, that shouldn’t be a deciding factor in the provision of learning - and that includes the provision of school meals.

One thing on their side is that Mr Rashford keeps mentioning “families”, sorry Mr Rashford, but it’s not up to government to feed families, this is a handout for the CHILDREN who would otherwise be fed at school, never (except in extenuating circumstances) have we ever been responsible for feeding families.

I do have it on good authority that the voucher scheme will be started again, but it will be at national government level, not local authority level.

I really feel for any family suffering at the moment, and I consider myself damn lucky to have and keep my job, but I’m already pushed to the limit, I’m tired, I worked semi-frontline as a school cook throughout this pandemic, and I’m now looking at a tax rise next year AND NO pay rise next year after already taking a less that advised pay rise last year to ease the financial burden on the council. How much more can I take?