A mother has criticised a school for refusing to serve lunch to her 11-year-old daughter.

Mother-of-two Janet Ellery accused staff at John Mason School, in Abingdon, of being insensitive after telling her daughter Emma to leave a school dinner queue, without her free meal.

She said the incident upset and embarrassed her daughter and had left her in tears.

Mrs Ellery, 33, of Glyme Drive, Berinsfield, suffers from an auto-immune disease, and receives income support, which entitles her children to free school meals, but it is thought the family had not completed the necessary forms claiming entitlement for the benefit.

Mrs Ellery said: "Emma had reached the front of the queue but was told she couldn't have her lunch.

"She was very upset and embarrassed in front of her friends and classmates.

"Her friends offered her some food, but she was so distraught she couldn't eat, and left in tears. She had been happy at the school but this has knocked her confidence."

Jim Hines, the deputy headteacher of the Wootton Road school, said he was unable to discuss individual pupils, but added: "Each year we have to renew arrangements for free school meals.

"Each student is given a form to be returned. If it isn't returned, a second letter is sent giving them a cut-off date to apply, as they might have changed circumstances or may not wish to apply for free school meals.

"If students should be in the unfortunate position of not having brought the form back, then we make sure they won't go hungry and contact the parents individually.

"Most students in this situation would come to the school office and would be allowed a free school meal."