Cancelled Christmas dinner back on Mansfield school menu - thanks to parent power

Last week Head teacher of Forest Town Primary and Nursery School, Martyn Cartlege wrote to parents telling them that the annual festive meal was not going to be happening - because there were too many pupils.

But this week Mr Cartlege said the traditional dinner would go ahead after all after parents pledged their support.

He told Chad; “The Christmas dinner carol service nativity plays and everything else are going ahead as always.”

On the School’s website he thanked parents who had expressed a willingness to support the school so it could offer a Christmas Dinner for full time children this year.

He told them: “I was overwhelmed by how many people offered to help out.

“With your support, I am sure that we can make Christmas Dinner as special as usual.

“Having discussed this matter with some of Santa’s elves, we have also managed to arrange for the meal to be provided free of charge to all of our children.”

Angry parents had complained to the Chad after Mr Cartlege sent out a letter said he was cancelling the Christmas Dinner as there were now “considerably more children in school than there were a year ago” and the increase had put considerable strain on the school’s lunchtime resources.