Hot school meals are a recipe for success (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Hot school meals are a recipe for success

4:37pm Monday 4th February 2008 in Chard By Steve Sowden

THE number of primary schools in South Somerset who are now receiving hot school meals has increased by a whopping 233 per cent.

Since Somerset County Council launched its transforming school food project in 2005, the number of schools across the district serving hot meals has increased from 12 in 2005 to 40 in2008.

A total of 61 per cent of all primary schools in Somerset now have access to hot school meals. This has increased from 31 per cent in 2005.

And now the authority has a target of providing 66 per cent of primary schools across the county with hot school meals by January 2009.

The council has invested grant funding in kitchen building and refurbishment projects across Somerset.

It also works to set up delivery services that enable schools without kitchens to be delivered hot school meals.

The council's contract support development manager, Wendy Green, said: "The success of the transforming school food project has been a major boost for schools across the county.

"Providing hot school meals will help ensure our children are healthy and happy at school.

"Evidence shows that a good diet can improve children's behaviour and concentration at school."

Cllr Gloria Cawood, the council's portfolio holder for education, added: "The work to increase hot school meals demonstrates Somerset County Council's support for schools to help ensure pupils are healthy and achieving.

"Encouraging children to eat a healthy diet is an important lesson they can carry with them all through their lives."