Crewe MP gets a taste of new school lunch roll-out

The Crewe and Nantwich MP congratulated the team for their hard work over the last 12 months preparing to serve all infants with a hot school lunch.

The school catering team at Cheshire East Council, together with schools across the borough, have been busy over the last year preparing for the new term – where over 4,000 additional free school meals will be served to infants, equating to an increase of 38 per cent.

"Our goal to offer every infant child a healthy, tasty school meal has become a reality – a move that will put money back in parents’ pockets while ensuring all children get the best possible start in life,” said Mr Timpson.

“I wanted to meet the school staff and hear their views on the way this new system is working in Crewe and Nantwich.

“Everyone has put in a great deal of hard work to ensure that we meet our promise to provide Reception Year 1 and 2 children at primary school with a nutritious, hot school lunch.”

The changes are as a result of the Government’s commitment to fund schools in England to provide every child in Reception, year 1 and year 2 with a hot, nutritious meal at lunch time.

At Weaver Primary School over 125 school meals are prepared every day, an increase from 85 last term. The catering team at the school has increased by 100 per cent, now employing four staff and led by catering supervisor, Catherine Blackhurst who has worked at the school for 30 years.

Councillor Rachel Bailey, from Cheshire East Council added: “Eating lunch at school encourages children to socialise at meal times, develop good table manners and broaden experience of food. “A good diet assists learning and improved behaviour and sets children on the way to making healthier food choices in the future.

“I thank the catering team for their tremendous hard work over the last 12 months to ensure Cheshire East is ‘up and running’ and ready to serve nearly 15,000 free school meals every day across the borough.”