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Warrington school meals parents' survey

View the results of the Warrington-wide parents' survey which was conducted in March 2009. Thank you to all the parents who took time to complete and return this survey.

Prioritising the take up of school lunches

Increasing school lunch take up is very high on the government's agenda. Warrington Borough Council and the school meals catering service is totally committed to do all possible to see this happens.  Read the letter from Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State to all UK local authorities and schools.

The School Food Trust

The School Food Trust was established by the Department for Education and Skills in September 2005. Its 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.

About the School Food Trust Million Meals campaign
A revolution is underway in school food. Since September 2006, every pupil taking a school lunch is guaranteed, by law, a balanced, nutritious meal. We now need to make sure they are eating them and the 'Million Meals' campaign aims to do just that. Read more and sign up.

We want more Warrington students to try our delicious school meals!  

Part 1
In November 2008, the Warrington school meals catering service and the School Food Trust entered into a partnership project to increase school lunch take up, in the form of a targeted support package. Warrington is one of only fifteen local authorities in the UK currently involved in this initiative.

One of the first steps was to pull together a project team made up of catering managers, healthy schools staff, politicians and project managers from the School Food Trust.

The project team undertook a diagnostic and key stakeholder analysis of the school meals service and invited key stakeholders to a forum at The Statham Lodge Hotel on 1 April 2009.
 
Over 100 people attended including head teachers, parents and school children. The Mayor of Warrington, Cllr Graham Welborn, opened the proceedings followed by presentations and workshops. The feedback from these workshops was noted and a draft action plan has been prepared by the School Food Trust.

On 29 June 2009, the project team met to agree the content of the draft plan. 

Thanks to everyone who attended the forum, your feedback is valued and much appreciated. It will certainly help the school meals management team shape its priorities and actions in the immediate future.

I will update this website with any relevant detail and advise the progress against the plan on an ongoing basis.

Gordon Carson
Catering Services Manager
15 June 2009

Part 2 – coming soon

Warrington school meals catering service

The Warrington school meals catering service provides your child with healthy, filling and nutritional meals every school day.

A balanced diet gives children energy, helps them to concentrate in the classroom and teaches them the importance of being healthy as they grow into adults.

School meals are available to reception children right up to sixth form college students and are priced at just £1.95 per day.

The Warrington school meals catering service provides meals to all Warrington primary schools, Green Lane Special School, Foxwood Special School, Cardinal Newman High School and Woolston High School.

Quality of meals
Our recipes are high in fibre but low in fat, sugar and salt and only branded products are used.  We offer a selection of freshly cooked main meals and desserts every day, including pasta, rice, yoghurt and fresh fruit. 

In addition, a cash cafeteria service including jacket potatoes, sandwiches and salad bars are available in all secondary and some primary schools.

School meals in Warrington have eliminated the harmful artificial flavourings and colourings in our food and we are working to completely remove the small amount of nuts and genetically modified foods. Click here to see a copy of our current menu.

Special dietary needs
Vegetarian, multi-cultural and special dietary items are included in our menu plans.  Any specific concerns or requests can be dealt with by contacting the school meals catering service (details below).

Home-made lunchboxes
We fully understand that you might prefer to prepare a packed lunchbox for your child.  We have a helpsheet which recommends what you should include in your child’s lunchbox in line with our commitment to the health and wellbeing of all Warrington children.

Fruit and vegetables in Warrington schools
In the past year, the Warrington school meals catering service has increased the amount of fruit and vegetables on menus by 100%. Click here to see the press release.

Standards of hygiene, premises and management
All schools in Warrington participate in the Scores on the Doors scheme, and all hold at least 4 or 5 stars. Click here to look up your local school. Click here to see the council’s briefing document.

In addition, service management visit schools on a daily basis to ensure the highest possible standards are maintained and the appropriate staff training is offered.

Paying for school meals
School meals in Warrington can be purchased by cash, cheque and direct debit. The frequency pupils can pay for a meal is determined by each individual school.

Click here for a letter about paying for school meals by direct debit

Click here for information / FAQs about paying for school meals by direct debit

Click here for the timetable for paying for school meals by direct debit

Click here for an application form to pay for school meals by direct debit

Free school meals
If you receive Income Support or Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, you can apply for free school meals for your child.

Working for us
Any job vacancies in our school meals catering service are advertised on the council's jobs webpage.

Contact us: 
Warrington School Meals
2nd floor, New Town House
Buttermarket Street
Warrington, WA1 2NJ
Tel: 01925 443082
Email: gcarson@warrington.gov.uk

Last updated 12/03/2010 16:14:06

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