Marcus Rashford responds to Welsh school which will not feed children in lunch debt

Children in debt at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle in Penygroes, Gwynedd will not be allowed a school meal. Credit: PA

Marcus Rashford has responded to news that a Welsh school plans to not feed children if they are over a penny in debt.

The footballer has successfully campaigned to secure free meals for vulnerable children throughout the pandemic, recently receiving an MBE for his work.

The original tweet warned parents about the plans which are due to come into place from 19 November, urging them to get their children's accounts up to date.

Rashford took to Twitter to express his disappointment at the decision made by Neil Foden, strategic head of Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle in Penygroes, Gwynedd.

The 24-year-old quote-tweeted the letter with: "Has the pandemic not taught us anything? Can we not be understanding? Come on now…".

He later added: "For many children, lunch at school is the only meal they’ll get…".

Neil Foden, head of Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle in Penygroes, Gwynedd, said the rule would be enforced from 19 November.

The school letter to parents said the cook had been instructed not to give "any child if their debt has not been cleared, or, in the future, to children whose accounts do not have enough money to pay for lunch".

Mr Foden said the deficit in the school budget at the end of the last half term had led to the decision.

He said a "handful of pupils" had debts totalling more than £1,800.

In response to the move, one former teacher wrote on Facebook: "This sounds like something out of Oliver Twist, it's so Dickensian."

The former teacher added: "I used to see children coming into school genuinely hungry all the time, no child should ever be punished like this and how humiliating for them if the cook had to say no to them, it's also putting the cooks in a horrible position."

Another mum posted: "Shocking. I was £6 in debt and only realised yesterday. I completely forgot as I've been so busy with opening a new shop, running a business and caring for 4 children it slipped my mind. Not once did the school my children attend message or phoned me."

"Where's his duty of care?", another questioned.

Jasmine Bonnell added: "Maybe instead of not a feeding hungry child he could arrange meeting with each parent and ask if they need help and if struggling. I know so many working families that are struggling and cannot get any help from benefits or with free school meals and are having to visit food banks to feed their children."

Headteacher says pupils 'more than a penny in debt' won't be fed school meals

In a statement following the outrage, Mr Foden said pupils from the poorest families are eligible for free school meals.

He added: ‘Any parent in genuine financial difficulty should write to their child’s Head of Year in order that we may see how best to assist.

‘We understand that many families have experienced financial difficulty during the pandemic and we are not unsympathetic.

‘However, 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.’