• National School Meals Week runs between 11 and 15 November
• This year’s theme focuses on Mindful Meals
As part of National Schools Meal Week, schools across Newham are highlighting the importance of a nutritious meal and how it can help with mental as well as physical wellbeing.
The week, organised by LACA, the school caterers association, runs between 11 and 15 November and aims to raise awareness of good school food served daily by professional caterers in schools across England and Wales. This year, LACA wants to highlight how school meals play an important role in children’s mental wellbeing as well as postive physical and academic impacts.
Newham Council was one of the first local authorities to offer free school meals to all primary school pupils. Through the Mayor of London’s universal primary meals scheme, all primary school pupils in the capital now have the chance to enjoy a free meal every lunchtime. Both schemes ensure every primary aged child has at least one balanced and nutritious meal a day.
The local authority has seen improvements to pupils’ health, performance and attainment since its Eat for Free programme was introduced in 2009. The borough’s award-winning school meals provider, Juniper Ventures, prepares and serves more than 20,000 meals daily to almost 60 primary and secondary schools in Newham. Juniper is amongst the largest of only a handful of local authority controlled catering services in London, with 75 per cent of primary schools in Newham choosing the service.
Research shows eating a balanced and nutritious meal at lunchtime can improve concentration and behaviour during the afternoon. On top of improving diet quality and child health, data also suggests universal free school meals boost attainment, attendance, and increase a child’s lifetime earnings. This scheme also provides more security for families who save around £500 per year on food costs.
Find out more about school meals in Newham here: www.newham.gov.uk/school-meals-newham
