Shropshire pupils get first taste of free school meals

For the first time all Reception and Year 1 and 2 children in state-funded primary schools have had a cooked meal and a dessert thanks to a new government initiative which came into place yesterday.

The initiative, which has been rolled out across England, is expected to save parents about £5 million this year, with an average spend on school meals for those children at £400.

There are 5,115 children in Telford & Wrekin eligible for the scheme and a further 7,749 qualifying students in the rest of Shropshire.

In Shropshire Council-run schools, the policy change means that as of yesterday there is a 40 per cent increase in the number of meals that will be served.

That is an increase of 3,192 meals served yesterday and which will continue to be served each day for the rest of the school year.

Shire Services currently caters for 112 primary schools in Shropshire, which includes two academy schools.

Janet Croft, Shropshire Council's Shire Services manager, said: "In 16 schools, where they already have a good level of uptake of meals in Key Stage 1, there are fewer than 10 meals per day extra to be produced – as a result there is very little support that this group of schools will need to implement the new requirement.

"The largest increase in the number of meals being produced is 124 per day.

"To manage this, there was a need for additional equipment in the kitchen, additional serving trolleys and new staff have been recruited and trained."

Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for children's services – transformation and safeguarding, said she was delighted that schools and Shire Services were well prepared for the change.

She said that Shropshire Council has always worked hard to maintain a countywide hot school meals service and to ensure that where practicable schools in the county are able to cook fresh food on site.

A number of schools across the county have been given new kitchens to allow them to provide their own meals, including Telford &Wrekin's St Lawrence Primary School in Preston upon the Weald Moors.

Head teacher Steph Gaskill said: "The pupils have been so excited watching the kitchen being installed and the first on site meal was produced after Easter. With having an on site catering supervisor, pupils can engage and learn about food – contributing to what they would like on the menu."

Councillor Paul Watling, Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for Children, Young People and Families, said: "I am delighted that the school has an on site kitchen at last as I know this has something they have wanted for a long time.

"Both staff and pupils will benefit from this excellent new facility."This was thanks to capital funding of £150 million is available nationally this academic year to enable schools to upgrade kitchens and to increase dining capacity where required.

All other schools run by Telford & Wrekin Council have kitchens, so cookers and crockery have been upgraded to cope with the extra provision."

In this academic year schools will receive revenue funding at a flat rate of £2.30 for each meal taken by each newly eligible pupil.

The initiative, however, has not been rolled out in Wales and will see parents in Powys having to stump up the cash for those school meals, which those in Shropshire from yesterday get for free.

No-one from Powys County Council would comment because they said it was a devolved Welsh Government issue.

Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Radnorshire Assembly Member for areas such as Knighton and Presteigne, said: "The Welsh Labour government continues to use free school breakfasts as an excuse not to implement universal lunches.

"There are a number of positives which come from universal free school meals.

"Not only will it ensure that all pupils are enjoying a healthy lunch, which helps them concentrate better, but it is also a huge help to the family budget.

The average family currently spends about £437 on school meals for their children per year.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats understand the financial strain families are under and we are doing all we can to help people in difficult times."

A Welsh Government spokesman said that anyone who is interested in finding out if there child is eligible for a free school meal to visit www.wales.gov.uk and search "free school meals" for the criteria.