08 February 2023 , 11:03
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A mum claims children were left "humiliated" after their school dinners were taken away from their plates over debts.
The parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said Liverpool College left children without school dinners on Thursday, February 2.
Lunch staff reportedly removed slices of pizza, cookies and bottles of water from plates and told children simply "not today" in front of other pupils - although the school denied the accusation.
The mum claimed staff told the children to inform their parents about their debt, leaving many in tears.
The parent said: "The school wrote to parents last week threatening to take legal action over minimal balances.
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"They then decided to humiliate scores of children as their accounts for school meals had slipped into a negative balance.
The parent said many children were left in tears. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)"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."
Though the parent's children were not affected, she was shocked to hear of the treatment of their friends.
She said she understood schools should not have to deal with the debts, but believed there was a better way to communicate with both the children and parents.
She added: "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."
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Principal, Mr Hans van Mourik Broekman, denied the claims that any pupil has or will ever go without lunch at Liverpool College.
He said: "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."