It's not just in Spain, they aren't allowed in French schools, either....

Nor Italian schools. Lunch is considered as part of the educational programme. Often you aren't allowed to go home for lunch either.

Its interesting to know that France and Italy are the same

Seems its the UK which is soft on childrens eating habits then.

DD says there are others that stay at mealtimes only sometimes so thats what shell do because we still dont agree with the way she is treated at times.

Being softy brits we are not used to being force fed cold panga.

I can't really think of much to say that others haven't said but wanted to just express my concern, solidarity, whatever, over the bullying treatment your poor dd's had to put up with. Hope some equation of talks, moves, measures, etc. work.

My daughters could come home for lunch when they were at Primary School, but only because there was a school bus at the time (and I was working from home). Secondary School was another matter and they had to stay all day and eat what was on the canteen menu, otherwise they wouldn't have got through the long afternoon....
Food for thought....

really - there was a school bus at lunchtime??

here they get free lunches if they use the bus, cos there isn't one at lunchtime

my elder dd at secondary does 8-2 or 3 so does buy a boccy or similar in the canteen

Oooops, things are different in France, then! Secondary school starts at 8 a.m. and finishes at 5 p.m.!
Those that stayed at the Primary canteen paid, and those in Secondary had a set menu.
Back to the OP's worry, she should consult her PTA representative concerning bullying by the canteen staff. They can't be allowed to do that, however annoyed they might be...

I'm sorry to hear of your problems.
I do not know the full extent of your situation as others seem to, so it ¡s difficult to give advice.
However from what I have read this is a serious issue and clearly your daughter is very unhappy. It seems to me that you have to address the root cause of her unhappiness, which is either school or home.
If it is school she should be ok at home, if it is home then she may well be acting out her unhappiness in school which will alienate her from her piers.
If it is just school I think the advice you have been given already is sound.
All the best

Wowzers, if anyone slapped my son or daughter in the face for not eating I'd chop their hands off. No one touches them. If they run in the road without looking they may get a short sharp shock. Just so they know not to do it again. That's dangerous. But not eating? My son is real fussy and only three, he may sit in the corner of the room eating a bag of flour happily and we can't get him to eat normal food all the time but if anyone laid hands on him there would be hell to pay. Just my opinion. Kids sometimes don't eat what they are given. They will in time.

Shes happy, just picky.

I don't see anything wrong with sitting her in the naughty chair, tbh (although NOT the shouting or clip round the ear ).

If she likes staying to dinners because she likes the playtime, well she has to eat or she doesn't play. Simple. Let her be bored on the naughty chair all lunchtime. She should not be rewarded for not eating by being allowed to play imho.

Otherwise tell her she has to come home for lunch. If she wants to play with her friends, she will have to eat the school dinners.

I certainly would speak to the head about the physical and verbal violence, however, as this is unnacceptable.

You would not say that if you saw some/all of the stuff served to these kids.
Spanish kids are used to it as they are fed it from an early age at the nursery and or at home.

Forcing children to eat or worst still depriving them of food is not good at all and the only solution IMO is to have lunch at home.

Many children from different cultures find it unpalatable.

Much the same as many Spanish friends have told me that wouldnt go abroad to a non spanish speaking country as they wouldnt be able to eat the food.

Oh I see. Clearly there is nothing I can add then as I have misunderstood and this is just down to a childs preferences to certain foods.

OK, fine, so have the child home for lunch. Problem solved. You can't have it all ways, they are not going to give her different food to anyone else, are they?

But I still think there should be a strong word with the Head about the physical and verbal treatment.

Sorry to say this but it appears that it is the childs eating problems that are the issue to the OP not the abuse. Make of that what you will.