Parents don't hold back after seeing girl's school dinner photo

A Wigan mum has expressed her outrage after learning what her 10-year-old daughter eats at school – describing the meal as “embarrassing”.

Hollie Bullen, a year 6 pupil at Westleigh St Paul's CE Primary School in Leigh, took a photo of her lunch to show her mum Nikki she wasn’t being given enough food. The picture shows a small, burnt slice of pizza, three small pieces of fruit and a drink on a yellow tray.

Nikki, 34, was outraged by the discovery and took to social media to share her disgust. “If your child goes St Paul's and [is] on school dinners I'd be putting them on packed lunches,” she posted.

READ MORE: 'I wouldn't feed my dogs that!': Mum's fury after daughter sends her photo of primary school dinner

“Hollie took this picture because I was sick of her saying they don't get enough for dinner, well I can see why!! I wouldn't feed my dogs that!!”

Nikki, who works at B&Q, revealed she lodged a report with Wigan Council amid fears the food “doesn’t even cover a quarter” of a child’s recommended daily food intake.

“Yeah that's what they expect them to eat,” she added. “Some of these kids with nothing go to school just for a hot meal!! That's embarrassing for a school!! AND THAT'S A PIZZA ON THAT TRAY.”

Mum-of-four Nikki told the Manchester Evening News she shared the photo online to highlight how much the pupils are being given.

She added when she raised the issue with school, they were 'more bothered how I got the pictures' and about Hollie using her phone in school.

“Now I'd be asking your own schools to see their school dinners because my daughter has 10 pictures of 10 different meals and they are all like this,” she said. “Only two things on a tray, absolutely shocking.”

MEN readers were quick to voice their opinions on the mum’s outrage on our Facebook page.

Catherine Helen said: “In this day and age that pizza should be on a plate with chips and beans at least! That's absolutely pathetic. I'd be fuming too! Prisoners get better fed than that!”

Keely Alice Isherwood added: “My son’s school dinner said 'chicken burrito' on the order form… They gave him a dry wrap with some chicken nuggets. Yet they’ll bang on about healthy eating, and can’t seem to practice what they preach.”

Ange Cooke said: “Nothing wrong with the food but not enough for a 10 year old and definitely not enough for what schools charge. At 10 we were getting a plate full and if there was any left we were offered 2nds.”

Helen Lee added: “That’s disgusting for a growing child,” while Pammii Jay said: “School meals are atrocious now.”

Liam Tomlinson said: “Jesus it’s school meals. They expecting a lavish 3 course dinner?” while Stuart Rogan added: “Why isn't school lunch like back in my days late 80s early 90s cooked on sight by the sweet old dinner ladies and you always got 2nds!”

A spokesperson from Wigan Council and on behalf of Westleigh St Paul’s Primary, said: “We are aware of the concerns raised by a parent regarding food that have been subsequently shared on social media.

“Senior staff from the school have been in direct contact with the parent to discuss these concerns and provide reassurances about the service."

The school's food policy online states: "Within Westleigh St Paul’s we endeavour to provide a good eating environment and children are encouraged to use good manners.

"School meals are cooked on site and follow government guidelines. Children are able to choose each day from two hot options plus a sandwich option. This means they always get the lunch they choose and want.

"Children bringing packed lunches to school must bring them in a suitable container and these are stored in cupboards around school. Children are encouraged to only bring healthy snacks and healthy lunches to school.

"Following consultation it was decided to assist parents in providing healthy packed lunches by creating consistent guidelines within this policy that are shared by adults and children alike. These include no fizzy drinks, no energy drinks and to aim to include only one sweet treat e.g. fun size chocolate or biscuit etc.”