More Plymouth pupils now entitled to free school meals
All children in reception and years one and two will be eligible for a free cooked school lunch from this September. The meals will include a main course and a pudding at no cost to the parent/carer. The government’s Universal Infant Free School Meals initiative is aimed at improving academic attainment for infant children and helping families save money.
Councillor Sue McDonald, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Health, said: “I’m delighted that even more Plymouth children are now going to be able to enjoy a cooked healthy meal at lunchtime. Our school meals really do benefit the health, achievement and behaviour of all children, especially infants.”
All food served by Plymouth City Council’s Education Catering Service is sourced as locally as possible and prepared in keeping with the School Food Standards guidelines.
It means kitchen staff will be dishing up an extra 11,500 school meals every day! Brad Pearce, Education Catering Manager said “In Plymouth, we are absolutely committed to ensuring that all our children have access to wholesome, healthy food and that is demonstrated by our ability to provide free school meals to 100 per cent of the children that are now entitled to them.
“Since 2006/07 we have built 20 brand new production kitchens, ended transported food and refurbished all other existing school kitchens. As a result of this investment all schools in Plymouth will be ready to deliver UIFSM for the new term.
"Additional equipment such as combination ovens, freezers and food prep machines has been purchased. With refurbishment and minor building work currently taking place in 10 schools, all on track to be completed for the new term.”
The Universal Free School Meals initiative is open to infant pupils in maintained infant and primary schools, free schools, academies and schools for pupils with special educational needs and pupil referral units.
Further information about the Universal Infant Free School Meals can be found at www.plymouth.gov.uk/schoolmeals
More information about the school food plan can be found here.
More information on the benefits of a healthy school lunch can be found at www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk
