Free school meals go down a treat at Woodland Community Primary School

Freya Chadwick enjoying her free school meal

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The universal free school meals that are being offered to all key stage one pupils are going down a treat at Woodland Community Primary School in Heywood with pupils describing them as “yummy”.

Your reporter joined pupils sitting down to eat their lunch today (Friday 12 September) and was offered a variety of choice from sausage and mash to ham wraps and unlimited salad.

Four-year-old Freya Chadwick who had a ham wrap for her lunch said: “It was yummy and nice.” Freya also chose to have an apple and described that as “juicy”.

Georgia Davis, also four, had a ham sandwich and melon and grapes for her lunch and agreed that the lunch on offer was nice and added that it “filled her up”.

The government recently announced that from September 2014 all primary schools would be required to provide a free, hot lunch to all children whose parents or carers wished them to have one. This currently covers children in Reception, Year One and Year Two.

Headteacher at Woodland Community Primary School, Nicola Brogan said: “We have seen a really positive reaction to the scheme from parents. The feedback that we have been getting is that it is a lot better for them because it keeps them calm in the morning because they do not have to prepare a lunch and they are saying that their children are enjoying them.”

A wide range of foods are provided across the week whether it is different fruits, vegetables grains, pulses or types of meat and fish. Pupils are also offered healthier drinks including plain water, fruit or vegetable juice and low fat milk or lactose reduced milk.

75% of the meals prepared are home-made with fresh ingredients being used each day. The school also bakes its own bread on site and bakes home made cakes for pupils.

Typically each day pupils are offered a choice of five options for their lunch.

Today’s options included sausage, fishcake (with choice of potato – either mashed or jacket), pasta pot and a sandwich or wrap with unlimited salad. For dessert children could chose yogurt, fresh fruit, cake and custard or cheese and biscuits.

Peter Gurney, Facilities Manager for Catering and Cleaners at Rochdale Council, said: “All schools must meet nutritional standards so that children are having a balanced and healthy diet. We are providing that with the options we are giving to them but we can also adapt the menu to the children’s tastes.”

The school currently works on creating a four week menu plan at a time with the children having a say on what should be included on that menu.

Mr Gurney added: “We have sat down with pupils and the school council to see what they like so we can include it in the menu because it is ok to offer the free meals but if they don’t like it, then they won’t eat it and that is something we don’t want.”

So far the council has seen a 95% uptake in families choosing the free school meal option.