Free meals for all

All primary school children in two local authorities are to get free school meals in a government experiment to see what effect it has on behaviour and obesity.

The pilot scheme will last two years, and two local authorities in deprived areas will be chosen. In a third authority the eligibility rules for free meals will be changed.

Hull council introduced free meals for all primary children, but Labour lost power in the local elections and the Liberal Democrats scrapped the scheme.

Under the present rules, about 16% of primary children are entitled to free school meals but child welfare charities say many don't take them because of the stigma attached, and fear of bullying.

Free school meals for all

Children in Scotland will continue to get free school meals until the end of the school year.

The £5 million pilot scheme providing free, nutritious lunches for all primary one to three pupils was initially due to finish at the end of March.

More than 35,000 pupils are benefiting from the trial which is underway in the Borders, Fife, Glasgow, East Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire.

Ministers are evaluating the scheme to see if it results in improved pupil behaviour and improved attitudes to healthy eating.

If it is found to have benefits the Scottish government has agreed to extend the scheme across Scotland.

Behaviour impact of healthy lunches

Eating healthy lunches can sometimes cause children to behave more boisterously, new research has found.

Six primary schools in Sheffield were studied, and it was found that children who ate lunches high in fruit and vegetables were nearly four times more likely to be disruptive when working with other pupils.

However, in teacher-led activities pupils were over five times more likely to display alert and focussed behaviour when they had eaten more healthily.

The research, produced by the School Food Trust, is the first time that improvements in learning behaviour has been studied in relation to nutrition and dining facilities.

Praise for Scottish meals progress

Primary schools in Scotland have made good progress in getting pupils to eat more healthily, but obesity is still rising according to school inspectors.

In most schools the presentation of meals has improved and healthy snacks such as fruit are more widely available, says the report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education.

Despite the success of the scheme for primary pupils, inspectors noted that childhood obesity rates in Scotland were still rising and urged the government to act with more urgency.

Between 2005 and 2007 165 primary schools were visited to evaluate the success of the Hungry for Success initiative. The scheme was launched by the Scottish Executive in 2003 to improve the health of children.

Hungry for Success – Further Food for Thought