Our kids come home hungry every day after being given ‘tiny’ school meals – they wouldn’t fill a five-year-old
A PARENT has said her kid comes home from school hungry every day after being given "tiny" school meals.
Leanne Pengelly, 43, says the free school meal her 10-year-old son gets would "barely fill a five-year-old".
The mum, who sends her child to Millbrook Primary School in Newport, Wales, manged to snap a picture of the portion size when she picked him up early one day.
The lunch, which was in a disposable box, showed a few carrots, some cabbage, potatoes and gravy.
Leanne said: "My son wasn't well so I went to pick him up from school and they gave him his lunch to eat and I was shocked at how little there was.
"He has always said the meals are small, and he's starving when he gets in from school."
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Claiming she's brought it up with the school in the past, Leanne said nothing has been done to increase the amount of food given.
She said she is now having to spend more money on food because he isn't filling up throughout the day.
She added: "My son gets free school meals, but it costs me extra money to go out and buy stuff for packed lunches because he's so hungry.
"After picking him up from school I had to make him more food because he was still so hungry, so I can't imagine how he must feel every day at school.
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"He is a 10-year-old boy and they wouldn't fill a five-year-old up."
According to the school, the meals are "nutritious" and meet the "quality standards"; set by the Welsh Government.
A spokesperson for Millbrook Primary School and Newport City Council said: "All school meals supplied by Newport City Council's contracted catering company have to meet Welsh Government's quality standards.
"They are nutritious, freshly cooked and affordable.
"We are sorry this parent felt this meal, which included a pudding, was insufficient but we would urge her to raise her concerns directly with the school.
"The school sent the meal home with the child, who was unwell, as a gesture of goodwill.
"It is not something they are legally required to do."