School dinner staff 'humiliate pupils by taking food from plates'

School dinner staff ‘humiliate pupils by taking pizzas, cookies and water from their plates with tongs because their meal accounts are in the red’

• Mum left furious after children’s school dinners were ‘taken from their plates’ 
• A mother said the children’s food was removed from their plates over debts
• She claimed staff at Liverpool College on Queen’s Drive had ‘humiliated’ pupils 

A mum was left furious after children’s school dinners were ‘taken from their plates’ over debts.

The parent, who asked not to be named so their children were not embarrassed, claimed Liverpool College on Queen’s Drive ‘humiliated’ pupils as they sat to eat lunch in the canteen on Thursday, February 2. 

Staff reportedly came through the lunch hall with tongs to remove slices of pizza, cookies and bottles of water from plates in front of other pupils.

The parent said staff then told children, who were ‘in tears’, to inform their parent about their bills.

The parent said: ‘The school wrote to parents last week threatening to take legal action over minimal balances. 

A mum was left furious after children’s school dinners were ‘taken from their plates’ over debts at Liverpool College on Queen’s Drive (pictured)

‘They then decided to humiliate scores of children as their accounts for school meals had slipped into a negative balance.

‘The lunch staff publicly shamed the children by coming through the lunch hall with tongs and removing slices of pizzas, cookies, and bottles of water from their plates. 

‘I think the word from one of them was ‘not today’ as they took one of the child’s two slices of pizza.

‘To add insult to injury the food then had to be disposed of as the children had touched it. 

‘Children were left in tears, ringing their parents to have their accounts topped up, but even this wasn’t enough as they were then told it took time to register and sent them away again.’

The parent, whose own children were not affected but where shocked to see the treatment of their friends, said she understands schools should not have to deal the debts but ‘couldn’t help but think’ there was a better way to communicate with parents.

Staff reportedly came through the lunch hall with tongs to remove slices of pizza, cookies and bottles of water from plates in front of other pupils (File image)

She continued: ‘I cannot believe that any school would treat families like this particularly one which purports to have such high values. 

‘There are many families across the city who are struggling with the cost of living.

‘Children having to call their parents telling them they need to top up in January must have been really embarrassing.’

Principal Mr Hans van Mourik Broekman denied any pupil has or will ever go without lunch at Liverpool College.

He told The Echo: ‘No pupil at Liverpool College has ever or will ever go without a lunch. The College and its catering company partner do need to limit the amount currently owed by parents to our caterer as it is at unsustainable levels.

‘We appreciate times are difficult and we will not see pupils go without a lunch. 

‘These policies have been explained in writing to parents and pupils, and the College has apologised for any upset caused by their introduction.’ 

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