No school dinners if child's debt is 2p, Gwynedd head says

Pupils will not be allowed school meals if they are more than a penny in debt, according to a letter to parents.

The cook at secondary Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, in Penygroes, Gwynedd, has been "instructed not to give food to any child" if debts are not cleared.

Strategic head teacher Neil Foden's letter said the decision was due to a deficit in the school meals budget.

Gwynedd council said anyone "having difficulty" paying for school meals should get in touch.

Mr Foden's letter said he was "very surprised to learn at the end of the last half term that there was an unexpected deficit in our school meals budget".

"Closer inspection revealed that this was because a handful of pupils had run up debts totalling more than £1,800."

Mr Foden said the debt had been run up by parents of some 70 pupils, with nine parents owing more than £50 and three owing more than £100.

He added parents whose accounts were in debt were texted on a weekly basis and, ultimately, letters were sent, but in most cases there was no response and in several the debts increased.

Pupils from the most financially disadvantaged families are eligible for free school meals.

Father-of-five Darren Owen, 43, said he was "absolutely fuming" after his wife showed him the letter they had received.

"I understand that people should pay their bills but, at the same time, people are struggling," he added.

"We owed 36p and we had a letter," said Mr Owen, from Penygroes, who has two children at the school.

"Surely they know who the parents are. Can't they help them?"

The letter said all debts over £10 would be transferred to the council and parents would be invoiced by the authority.

And those with debts over 1p would receive a message from the Welsh medium school and asked to "clear its debts and credit the system" by 19 November.

Mr Foden's letter said the cook has been instructed not to give food to any child from 22 November if the "debt has not been cleared, or, in the future, to children whose accounts do not have enough money to pay for lunch".

"I am sorry that we have had to take these steps but the scale of the default means that something clearly has to be done," he wrote.

Mr Foden added: "This was a matter we raised with the council as an issue of concern, and the approach was recommended by them, but is one that I support."

"The letter has gone out to all parents, not just those with debts. Those with the largest debts are being dealt with by the education authority.

He said that he has not had a single complaint from a parent and he is aware that this has been an issue in other schools in north Wales and they have adopted a similar zero tolerance approach.

"Any shortfall in the budget for school meals will have to be made up by the school which could mean fewer books and resources for all pupils because of debts run up by a few."

Footballer Marcus Rashford, who recently received an MBE for his drive to ensure no child in need went hungry during the pandemic, expressed concern about the letter on Twitter.

A spokesperson for Gwynedd council said: "In terms of payment of school meals, an online system has been introduced on which parents should ensure that sufficient funds are in place to pay for their child's school meals.

"The payment system offers some flexibility for parents who may for whatever reason not be able to make payment for a short period of time. Reminder messages are sent as required to ensure that no significant debts are incurred.

"We do not operate a blanket policy of refusing meals to pupils, and will discuss this matter directly with the school."