Derbyshire school meal prices to increase by more than 40%
20 Jul 2023
The cost of school meals in Derbyshire as of September 2023 are going to rise from £2.30 to £3.25, it was reported by BBC News.
The council’s school catering service provides more than 60,000 hot meals to children at over 350 schools. The increase won’t affect children in reception, year one or year two as they receive universal free school meals.
Derbyshire Council said the 40% increase was because of statutory wage rises as well as the cost of ingredients becoming more expensive.
Sue Parkes, headteacher at Staveley Junior School, told BBC News: "Some families have three or four or more children, so if they have three children in Derbyshire having school meals the reality of that is it's an extra £60 a month to find. I think that is going to be really, really difficult for some of my families who are already being hit hard by the cost of living crisis."