An East Lothian mum has hit out at her son’s school after they introduced a healthy snack policy that she feels could ostracise her child.
The mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, sent Edinburgh Live correspondence between herself and the head teacher at St Martin’s RC primary school in Tranent.
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In the email chain she raises her concerns with the new school policy which encourages pupils to bring in a healthy snack in order to gain points for their assigned house.
The concerned parent worries that her autistic son, who relies on eating his ‘safe foods’ which are traditionally seen as unhealthy, will be singled out by his peers for not abiding by the same practices as his classmates.
She added that she is also worried about the cost of fresh fruit and healthy snacks, saying that the cost may be too much for some families to bear after the pandemic.
In correspondence sent to parents, St Martin’s state what they would like to achieve: “At St Martin’s we want all of our children to be healthy. We want them to learn, grow and to reach their full potential.
“We have created a recommended list of snacks to help you make healthy choices: fruit, vegetable sticks, yoghurt, cereal bar, baked crisps, plain biscuits, dried fruit, breadsticks or crackers, cheese and sugar free jelly.
“Each day children will be able to gain an extra point for their house by bringing in a healthy snack. At the end of the term the house with the most points will participate in a Healthy House Celebration.”
Children can purchase healthy items from a healthy food trolley, with items costing up to 25p, or alternatively they can bring in their own healthy snack.
But in response to the introduction of the policy, the parent told Edinburgh Live: “In light of the current economic situation many families will be unable to provide “healthy” options and some children will not have access to fresh fruit or veg.
“With many families choosing between heating or eating this puts an unnecessary strain on families that are living below the poverty line. If the school would like to use part of their term funding to give children the access to fresh fruit [then] that would be somewhat reasonable.
“But they are offering to sell a piece of fruit for 25p each, which equates to £20 a month for me. I feel they are putting unnecessary pressure on families. Policies such as these are archaic.
“Personally, this policy will have a detrimental effect on my son as he is autistic and struggles with eating anything other than his safe foods which would be considered unhealthy by the school. This could cause him to be ostracised by his peers.
“I feel the response from the head teacher was patronising and feel like there is a massive lack of understanding and compassion. I feel that contacting the media is the only way that my voice can be heard.”
In the emails with the head teacher of the school, the parent says that they were very upset to learn of the new healthy snack policy.
They go on to say that they feel their son should be protected under the equalities act and that this is “yet another thing for my son to feel different from everyone else.”
But in response, the head teacher, Mrs Lauren Davies said: “I am sorry that the introduction of the Healthy Snack Policy has caused you any upset that was never the intention of myself or the Healthy Snack Working Group.”
Mrs Davies goes on to say that the policy was built through feedback from parents but that they had unfortunately not received a feedback form from the worried parent.
She went on to add: “I would like to reassure you that no child will be penalised by the implementation of the policy. As stated within it ‘for any special dietary requirement please contact Mrs Davies’ we will continue to support our learners on an individual basis.
“I hope that helps to ease your concerns however as always should you have further queries then please do not hesitate to get in contact. We do also have the opportunity for parents to be part of the Healthy Snack Working Group should that be something you would like to consider.”
An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “Children at the school asked to form a healthy snack group and, as lockdown restrictions eased, have been keen to reinstate a fruit trolley which ran for many years previously. Children have devised a new healthy snack policy which has been shared with parents/carers and received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
“Use of the fruit truck trolley is completely optional and children who do not wish to take an item from the trolley are still welcome to bring in their own snacks. Items from the trolley cost up to 25p but the school will continue to provide free snacks where required.
“The school welcomes feedback and the opportunity to engage with all children and parents/carers and continues to support children on the basis of individual needs and dietary requirements.”
