Shropshire primary school meals continue to prove popular

Press release - 14 August 2007

Shropshire primary school meals continue to prove popular

The number of children eating lunch at Shropshire’s primary schools in the past year remained steady, and take-up was well above the national average, according to the latest figures from Shropshire County Council.

The figures show the number of children eating school meals in the year since the Government’s new food standards were introduced in September 2006. (see additional information - note 2)

In the 12 months since the nutritional guidelines were introduced, on average more than 45 per cent of Shropshire’s primary school children enjoyed lunch at school - five per cent above the national average.

And in the same period, the number of primary school children eating school meals in the county fell by less than one per cent, while nationally the average decrease was 12 per cent.

Janet Norton, General Manager with Shropshire County Council’s school meals service, said: “The Government’s new guidelines certainly appear to have had an impact on the number of children eating lunch at school across the country. However, in Shropshire, work to provide a more healthy and balanced meal began well before these new standards were introduced, and the new requirements provided us with a great opportunity to take the next step with our menus in providing more home-cooked items and fresh fruit and vegetables.

“We believe we have one of the best school meals services in the country and these figures help to illustrate this.”

Ann Hartley, Shropshire County Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services said: “It is pleasing to see that our work to improve school meals in Shropshire is helping the county to buck the national trend. I hope that, as our primary pupils move up to secondary school, they will continue to choose to eat lunch at school, and help to boost take-up at our secondary schools as a result.”

New lunch menus will be introduced in Shropshire’s primary schools next term.

ENDS

For further information, call Janet Norton, General Manager, Shropshire County Council's school meals service, on (01743) 254576.
For media contact, call Gareth Proffitt, Communications Officer, on (01743) 252828.

Additional information

(1) Shropshire County Council’s figures show that, in the school year September 2006 to July 2007, take-up of school meals in Shropshire’s primary schools was 45.38 per cent.

Figures from the Local Authority Caterers’ Association show that the average take-up nationally in the same period was 40 per cent.

(2) The new Government standards ensure that school meals are nutritionally balanced with restrictions on fat, sugar and salt content; that fried food can only be served twice per week; that no reconstituted meats, confectionery (such as chocolate bars), or savoury snacks (such as crisps), or fizzy drinks are served; and that more fresh fruit and vegetables are served.