News

Derbyshire County Council is recommending schools keep meal prices at the 2012/13 academic year levels, when pupils return for the new year in September. It means a primary school meal would stay at £1.95, with secondary school meals remaining at £2.30.

Currently the authority provides school meals to around 98% of Derbyshire primary schools and 48% of secondary schools, which equates to 38,000 meals a day in 385 schools.

The authority’s deputy leader and cabinet member for children and young people, Councillor Kevin Gillott, said prices were lower than in many neighbouring authorities and were being kept down due to more children choosing to have a school dinner and the authority’s catering service working more efficiently.

“The benefits of a nutritious meal at lunchtime are well known. Children concentrate better in the classroom and are ready to learn.

“Family budgets are being squeezed like never before so we have worked hard to keep the cost of providing meals down.”

The prize freeze comes as the number of children choosing to have a school meal has gone up in Derbyshire. In the last 12 months, take up has increased:

• By 2.4 % in primary, special and nursery schools - bringing the total to 52.2%
• By 2.2% in secondary schools, with take-up now at 48%

There has also been an increase in the number of pupils taking up their entitlement to a free school meal.

Councillor Gillott added: “It is important for pupils to enjoy a healthy lunch and that those entitled to free school meals take up the offer. Research shows that hungry children are less likely to do well at school and are more likely to disrupt the classroom.

“We know that many families are struggling financially and we will continue to do all we can to help ease the pressure on families by keeping costs down and recommending schools don’t put up the price of meals.”

The recommendation to keep the price of school meals the same will be discussed by the county council’s Cabinet on August 5th.

Responsibility for buying in school meals was given to primary schools in April 2013, having already been given to secondary schools in 2000.

From this September, all infant school children will be able to get a free school meal.