Parents take school drinks ban to local MP
A mother claims she has taken her child out of school after a ban on bringing drinks from home was introduced.
At Chadsmoor CE Junior School in Cannock, children are no longer allowed to take their own water or juice into school and instead can pay 20p a day for diluted juice or milk.
Restrictions on what food youngsters can have in their lunch box have also been introduced including a bar on bringing in sweets, chocolate covered or iced cakes and biscuits, chocolate bars, fried crisps, sausage rolls, corned meat or pies. The school says it wants to provide more healthy options.
Since the move was introduced earlier this year some parents claim that yoghurt drinks have also fallen foul of the ban.
One says she has contacted Cannock Chase MP Aidan Burley while another says she has moved her son to another school.
Mother Gemma Reece said she had taken her son out of Chadsmoor School and added: "I have lost all trust in the school and his teachers."
Another parent Rachel Oxton, said she had written a letter to Aidan Burley, MP for Cannock Chase and has taken her fight to the government's Children's Food Trust.
She claimed: "It is beyond ridiculous now. There is no consistency with the rules. Yoghurt pots are allowed but not yoghurt drinks. The children are confused and it is making them worried and scared."
She said that Mr Burley responded in a letter where he said it was down to individual schools to dictate their own packed lunch policy, but parents have every right to make their feelings known if you feel that the policy is not working, or if it is placing unfair financial implications upon parents.
The Children's Food Trust said it understood the frustration's of the parents and confirmed it is not part of the government legislation to not allow drinks to be brought onto the school premises.
Karen Burns, Executive Headteacher at Chadsmoor CE (VC) Junior School, said: "All staff are aware of the guidance and ask if they are unsure about a particular item, but it's important to emphasise that no bags are searched and nothing is confiscated. Staff just offer alternatives."
