Council refutes fear over Shropshire school meals

Everything is in place for the government's universal infants free school meals (UIFSM) scheme to go ahead from September, despite fears kitchens, staff and catering services might not be ready or able to cope with the anticipated massive increase in demand.

Trial runs and talks with school heads have ironed out concerns, Shropshire Council bosses have said, and the county is in a "much better position" than some neighbouring authorities.

Councillor Joyce Barrow, chair of Shropshire Council's young people's scrutiny committee, said she had been pleasantly surprised by the progress made by council officers and schools.

She said: "Shropshire Council is in a very good position.

"Unlike places like Herefordshire and Worcestershire the majority of our schools already have kitchens in place.

"We did have concerns that at some of the larger schools the number of meals would increase hugely , but we did a trial run at Sundorne to see how it would fit in and it was fine."

She said new equipment had already been delivered to some schools and officers had spoken to the head teachers of all schools to iron out any concerns.

"Everything is in place and everything will be ready to go by September. It's good news," she said.

The government's UIFSM scheme states that from September 2014, all state funded infant school children (reception, Year 1 and Year 2) will be eligible to receive a free school meal.

Shropshire Council's young people's scrutiny committee will be considering a report by Shire Services manager Janet Croft at a Shirehall meeting on April 30 on how prepared Shropshire schools are to start the scheme.

Shire Services currently provides catering services to 112 primary schools in Shropshire and anticipates an increase of 3,192 meals served per day, an increase of 40 per cent. It also provides a school meals service to three infants schools, Woodfield, Ludlow and Sundorne, at which a "significant increase" is expected in the number of meals provided.

The report says "There is a risk that schools may not be in a position to deliver the UIFSM ready for September. Shire Services are committed to ensuring that all the schools which they work with are in a position to fulfil this requirement."