This is a research questionnaire, not a complaint form. We want to understand what school lunches need to do for your child and your family — and what would make them genuinely work. Responses will be shared with the school to help shape improvements for everyone.

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Section 1 of 7

01 About your family

Would you like to respond anonymously?

Yes, keep my response anonymous No, include my name

Your name

Email address optional — only if you would like to be contacted

How many children do you have at the school?

1 2 3 or more

Which year group(s) are your children in? select all that apply

Reception Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6

Which of the following describes your child's diet? select all that apply

No restrictions Vegetarian Vegan Allergy or medical dietary need Other (please specify)

Please specify

02 Current lunch arrangements

What does your child currently do for lunch?

Has school meals every day Mostly school meals School meals with extra snacks or supplements brought from home Mostly packed lunch Packed lunch every day

If your child now brings a packed lunch, when did this change? optional

In the last month 1 to 3 months ago 3 to 6 months ago More than 6 months ago Has always had packed lunch

What was the main reason you switched to packed lunches?

We want to understand what was not working — not to judge the decision. Select all that apply.

My child said the food was not nice My child said they were going hungry My child had sensory issues with the food on offer My child could not get a plain option when they did not like the main dish Dietary needs were not being met My child felt stressed or unhappy at lunchtime I was not confident my child was eating Cost or value concerns Other (please specify)

Please specify

03 What lunch needs to do for your child

How important is each of the following to you?

Rate each: not important · quite important · very important · essential

Does your child come home hungry after school?

Never Occasionally Often Almost every day

Do you feel the current lunch arrangements give your child enough energy to concentrate in the afternoon?

Yes, definitely Mostly Not really No, it is a problem

04 What gets in the way

Has your child ever been served food they did not want and could not get an alternative?

Yes No Not sure

What happened?

Have you ever tried to raise a concern about school meals?

Yes, with the school, and it was resolved Yes, with the school, but nothing changed Only in a class WhatsApp group or in conversation with other parents No, I did not know how to raise it No, I did not feel it would make a difference No, I have not had concerns

How difficult is it for your family to provide a packed lunch as an alternative?

Easy Manageable but time-consuming Difficult Very difficult — it is a real burden

If your child has told you they do not like something on the menu, what has the issue usually been? select all that apply

Food looked unfamiliar Food looked unappealing Too spicy (or perception of heat) or flavoured too strongly Texture was off-putting Smell was off-putting Not enough plain options Other (please specify)

Please specify

05 Additional needs & sensory awareness

Does your child have any additional needs or a SEN identification? completely optional

Yes No Awaiting assessment Prefer not to say

Does your child have food-related challenges or extra needs?

Yes, significantly Sometimes Not especially

Please describe any specific food-related needs or challenges

Were you aware that some children experience food very differently — not as fussiness, but as a genuine sensory challenge?

Eating is one of the most complex sensory tasks we do as humans. For some children, sensitivity to textures, smells, temperatures or the appearance of food can trigger real distress — not a behaviour choice, not stubbornness. This is not the same as ordinary picky eating, which most children go through as a normal developmental phase. For some children it is a deeper, consistent challenge rooted in how their nervous system processes sensory information.

Sources: NHS Children's Therapy Services — Picky Eaters and Sensory Issues · Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust — Picky Eating and Sensory Challenges

Yes, I was aware I knew a little but not the full picture No, I was not aware

06 Your ideas

What would make school meals genuinely great for your child? select all that apply

Always having a plain option available (e.g. plain pasta, plain rice) Small taster portions of new foods so children can try without pressure Clearer descriptions of dishes so children know what to expect More flexibility for vegetarian and vegan options More flexibility — letting children choose what goes on their plate The upcoming week's menu included in the Friday newsletter A regular short survey to rate which meals were enjoyed and which were not Children being able to vote on menu options Staff trained to understand sensory food needs Better options for children with SEN or sensory differences A simple way to give feedback that actually gets acted on Other (please specify)

Please specify

Do you know of a school, provider or menu that you think gets this right? optional

Share a name, link or example below — or post it to your class WhatsApp group so your parent rep can pass it on for our resources page.

Anything else you would like to share that we have not covered?

07 Sharing your response

Are you happy for your response to be included in a summary shared with the school?

Yes, include my response Yes, but only anonymised No, I would rather it not be shared

By submitting this questionnaire, you confirm you are happy for the responses to be stored and used for research purposes. Aggregated, non-identifying findings may be shared with the school and, if relevant, in summary documents. If you provided your email address, you consent to being contacted about this research. You can request removal of your response at any time by emailing kimberly@moxie89.com. Data is held securely and will not be shared with third parties. I agree to the above

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Thank you.

Your response has been recorded. We will compile all responses and share the findings with the school.

If you provided your email, we will be in touch.

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What do school lunchesactually need to do?

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What do school lunches
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