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Northampton schools set for hot meals
17 Sep 2009

Schools in Northamptonshire are set to see hot dinners return after the county council approved a new multimillion pound scheme.

New plans would ensure that 93 per cent of schools in the region provide such dinners in their canteens.

The proposals - which will be implemented from next year - will involve those schools which do not have kitchens either having new facilities constructed or bringing in food from outside sources.

Whichever option is chosen by individual schools, they may wish to consider introducing cashless catering systems.

Last month, chair of Merton Parents group Jackie Schneider said that a number of children are not taking advantage of free school meals because they do not like the stigma attached to not paying for their food.

"In many schools, payment is made at the office now, in private and some schools use a prepaid card system so children don't need to carry cash," the parent explained.

UK eMoney network sQuidcard has trialled such a system in Wiltshire and claims that it can stop kids on free meals feeling embarrassed about receiving what is rightfully theirs.