According to information from the School Trust Fund, fewer pupils of primary school age in Sheffield eat meals in schools, compared with other areas of South Yorkshire. A reported 38 per cent of youngsters have a school dinner in Sheffield, by contrast, with 46, 50 and 58 per cent in Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster respectively.

The figure relating to Sheffield is attributed to expense as well as an increasing trend towards packed lunches. However a spokesperson for Sheffield Council said that the number of pupils eating a school meal is still growing, with primary schools up 2.7 per cent and secondaries by a reported 0.5 per cent over the past four years.

However, to give the area some much needed impetus to further boost school dinner uptake, food for primary school pupils is to be the focus of catering contractor, Taylor Shaw.

In the new deal worth £48 million over five years, the company has been lined up to take over the provision of school meals across the majority of the Sheffield area, amounting to 121 schools, from September this year.

Speaking on behalf of the School Food Service for the council, service manager, Leah Barratt, commented, “We are pleased that we are continuing in a steady upwards direction in terms of numbers of children having school meals.” She added that they would be endeavouring to further bolster numbers through the forthcoming contract “with better quality food and more hands on approach from the contractor.”

Taylor Shaw hopes to achieve this with more local produce and working more closely with children and parents.

Posted by Matt on the 1st August 2011