Westbury Infants School is helping to ensure that its pupils are ready to learn with the implementation of free healthy hot lunches for all.
As an infant school, all children are now entitled to a free meal under the new government scheme that started at the beginning of the month.
Headteacher Stacey Budge said, “As this area of Wiltshire has very high levels of social deprivation, the provision of a free healthy hot meal for every child each day is likely to have significant positive impact on achievement. We have worked really hard to devise a tempting three-course menu, served at a table set with tablecloth and real glassware and crockery (yes, with infant aged children!)
“We received a grant from Wiltshire Council towards the cost of a new oven for the kitchen. We are expecting an uptake of 95% for our school meals.”
Teacher Peter Mould added, “Very few pupils bring their own lunch now. We can ensure each child has a healthy meal and this will promote learning for the rest of the day. Staff from the school eat with the children and help to promote good manners. We have turned lunch into a positive social activity.”
A main course is accompanied by a daily starter of self-service salad with a wide variety of seasonal vegetables, and a daily choice of a pudding, yogurt, fresh fruit or cheese & biscuits. Most food is homemade and all is freshly cooked every day in our kitchen, whilst the meat is locally sourced, within 50 miles of the school. Fresh drinking water is always available.
