County Council Proposes Keeping Meal Prices Low
Schools in Derbyshire are being encouraged to keep the price of a school meal as low as possible following a two-year price freeze.
Derbyshire County Council hasn’t recommended a rise in the price of a school lunch since September 2013.
But at the council’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday, July 7, councillors will hear that if prices don’t go up, the service will be running at a loss
To minimise the impact of any price rise on parents, the authority is looking to recommend schools only increase the cost of a school lunch by 5p.
This still means Derbyshire families are paying less than families in almost any other neighbouring area.
By working more efficiently and increasing uptake, the county council’s catering service has managed to offset much of the increase in the cost of providing a school meal to the county’s children.
The county council’s cabinet member for children and young people Councillor Jim Coyle said: “Rising costs – particularly in food – means we’re having to recommend a slightly increased price, but we’ve kept this proposed recommendation as low as possible.
“We’re offering tasty and healthy school lunches at a very good price and more and more children are eating them.
“Our prices would still be cheaper than all but one neighbouring council and among the lowest of similar authorities,” he added.
If agreed by cabinet, the recommended selling price of a school lunch would be:
• Primary School meal £2
• Secondary School meal £2.10
• Secondary meal with a drink £2.35
Derbyshire County Council provides around 51,000 primary, secondary and special school meals per day, cooked and served in 400 kitchens and dining centres.
Schools set their own prices for school meals as they hold their own catering budgets, but the authority makes a recommendation and advises schools not to profit from them.
The overall take-up of primary school meals in Derbyshire is up from 51.2% in 2013/14 to 62.9% in 2014/15 – an increase of more than 11%. In secondary schools, it rose by 3.3%.
Councillor Coyle added: “We want as many young people as possible to take advantage of a healthy and tasty lunch each day and many families may be eligible for free school meals.
“Infant pupils now qualify for a free school meal, but as your child gets older, you could save more than £400 a year for each child if you qualify.
“The school will benefit too - they'll get a pupil premium of £1,300 a year for each child on free school meals.”
To find out more about whether your child is eligible for a free meal – and to apply online - visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals
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