A concerned mum says change is needed to school meals after seeing what primary school pupils are having for lunch. Kay Webb turned to Facebook to show pictures of "tiny" portions of food being given to youngsters as old as 11. Posting pictures of four dinners chosen by her son she said: "This is a post relating to the food our children are being fed all parents of Shotton Primary School be advised that this is the meal size your children receive daily so when your children come home hungry this is why.".

The school defended the meals on social media telling parents children can have two portions of vegetables plus coleslaw, salad and bread to fill their plates. They said if youngsters refuse them they do not challenge it to avoid causing "unnecessary upset" for the pupils. Kay told The Mirror she found out how little her son William, seven, was eating when she went to sit with him over lunch as there was nobody to do a one to one with him. She said: "I was sitting with him and saw the food and thought how bad is this?.

"He was coming home hungry every night and has lost a massive amount of weight. I was being offered protein shakes for him and although we always have food at home I was wondering what I was doing wrong. "I couldn't see why he was losing weight as he eats plenty at home. When I saw the meals I realised straight away why he was hungry when he got in.". The mum-of-four said her other children had also been coming home hungry but had not realised why. She said the portions need to be bigger - especially as children as young as four got the same as those aged 10 and 11.

She said: "For some children this might be their only meal - there might not be food at home. They are relying on this and it isn't enough.". Kay said she herself had gone hungry as a child as she had been neglected before moving into care. She said: "I was that child who was starved and had to try to find food elsewhere. I was in the care system from being eight and I will fight for the food to be enough for children.".

Kay said William was born four weeks early, spending weeks in the Neonatal Unit at North Tees Hospital in Stockton. Now seven, he has sensory issues which mean he doesn't like some textures and won't eat some foods including many vegetables. She said during the week she spent with him his meals included:. Kay admited William won't eat vegetables she says many other children are the same. She said: "Even if they topped up their plates with an extra scoop of mash it would help a bit.".

She added: "I believe the standards are beyond shocking for the portion size. Children really need this food - it is their main meal. Every child should be entitled to a decent meal of hot food, especially during the winter.". The mum said there was fruit and yoghurt plus some other foods when the children arrived at school on a morning. But she said fruits like grapes and blueberries were counted so a child got five berries or grapes. Kay says she has now been told she must take William home over lunch break and he will be given a packed lunch to bring with him.

Many people commenting on the post backed the mum. One wrote: "Disgusting & how much are parents paying a week for that." Another added: "Some of the children in the school.. this could be the only good meal they get... well you assume school dinners are a good meal. Certainly was many moons ago when I was at school.". One commented: "Shocking. I used to love my school meals, and there was a lot more on our plates. It was 50 odd years ago but kids still need a decent meal and that isn't one. £3 a day is a total rip off." Another agreed saying: "Can that even be classed as food, that’s absolutely disgusting! They wanna hang their heads in shame serving that to kids.".

But some backed the school. One posted: "I've just asked my son if his school meals are like this he said yes but there's always beans or veg or salad to go on the side. Unpopular opinion but if you added those things I really don't think this is too bad. My kids love their school dinners.". Another said: "They will get veg offered too. Not the schools fault if your kid won't eat veg and they can't give extra scoops of mash instead as there'll be only enough for one each child.

"Schools are on tight budgets unfortunately. Not saying it's right like. I'd personally put my kids on packed lunches. Works out cheaper and at least you know that they'll like it.". One poster claimed they used to work with the company that provides the meals at a different school. She said she could confirm that "most primary schools in County Durham are the same". She wrote: "As kitchen staff we are told by management the portion sizes to give the children and are inspected every so often to make sure we are doing it correctly and are pulled if not however I must admit the school I used to work in we’d give extra as we also thought the portion sizes are shocking, it definitely needs looking over in my opinion. On the other hand though I’ve also seen how much gets wasted even with these small portions.".