90% of Southwark pupils are tucking into healthy school meals

19th January 2012, 11:18am

The vast majority of reception and year one pupils in Southwark are benefiting from the council's free health healthy school meals programme, it has been revealed this week.

A total of 90% of pupils are tucking into healthy lunches following the scheme's roll out in September.

Catherine McDonald, cabinet member for children's services said: "I'm delighted to know that our primary schools are embracing the free healthy school meals scheme and I look forward to the time when all the year groups receive this benefit. 

"Southwark is making every effort to tackle childhood obesity and offering a healthy and nutritious lunchtime meal is an important step in promoting good health." 

Commenting on the scheme, one parent said: "When my wife and I were both working it was not such a problem to find the money for school meals but I lost my job six months ago and was not entitled to benefit so this has been a godsend for us." 

Another parent said: "I was paying £16 per week for school dinners for my children so this is a big saving for me."

Related Articles:

• 14 Sep 2011 - Every pupil in Southwark will receive free school meals to tackle obesity
• 02 Nov 2010 - Southwark Council reveals 10 schools taking part in healthy meals pilot

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