School meals in the spotlight
08-MAR-10
Issued by: Nicola Sleightholme
School meals in North Tyneside are in the spotlight as the council pilots a scheme, funded and led by the School Food Trust, to evaluate the impact of marketing and promotions on school meal uptake.
The aim of the project is to promote the quality and benefits of the school lunches on offer in the borough's primary and middle schools, and make school lunchtime more appealing for pupils. It's hoped that this in turn will increase uptake.
North Tyneside was chosen as one of only a handful of authorities in the country to trial the scheme, and ten local schools are taking part.
On Tuesday 9 March, the School Food Trust will pay a visit to Valley Gardens Middle School in Whitley Bay to find out how the new promotions are going down with pupils.
Pupils will also be trying out their brand new lunch menu, which has been specially tailored to appeal to discerning middle school pupils. Tasty offerings include vegetable balti, fresh salmon and broccoli flan and fusilli in a tomato and basil sauce.
The project sits alongside work already underway by North Tyneside Council's Catering Services, to improve quality, choice and value of school meals across the borough, and compliments recent improvements to school dining facilities . Primary school pupils will also get a new- look menu from April.
The marketing pilot was launched in early February, and has already included competitions and prizes for children, improved in-school signage, tasting stations for pupils and parents, a display trolley which enables children to see the meal of the day, improved staff training and more communication with parents.
At the end of the trial, the School Food Trust will evaluate the impact of the activity, and North Tyneside Council may look at adopting some of the measures on a more permanent basis.
Cllr George Westwater, Cabinet member for Children, Young People and Learning, said: "The days of overcooked vegetables and lumpy mashed potato are long gone and our children are now offered healthy, nutritious meals which meet rigorous government guidelines, and offer real choice, and we'd like to see as many children benefit from a good lunch, as possible.
"This pilot aims to help us understand how effective marketing and promotions could help us to ensure that more children benefit from a good school lunch, and will hopefully help inform our future work in this area."
The School Food Trust's remit is to transform school food and food skills, promote the education and health of children and young people and improve the quality of food in schools.
School Food Trust Marketing Manager Kirsten Bolton, said: "It's been fantastic to see how much the children are enjoying healthier school lunches. The pupils tell me that lunchtime here really is a highlight of their day, which is exactly what we want to hear."
For more information on the work of the School Food Trust, visit www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk