I recognise the growing confusion and concern surround lunch conditions, particularly meals provided within the school system. However, I would like to reassure you that local authorities are required by legislation to provide free school meals for qualifying children in early education at a maintained school, if they attend before and after lunch sessions. Further to this, local authorities are required to consider whether to fund the cost of lunch when a child who would qualify for Free School Meals in a maintained school takes up their funded entitlement at a private, voluntary or independent provider. Ultimately, these decisions are left to local authorities, as they best know the needs of local children.
For some children, the food they receive at lunchtime is their main meal of the day, and thus, I am pleased that the Government has taken action to ensure that the food they receive is healthy and nutritious. Further to this, I am impressed by the Government’s introduction of new school food standards as I believe that this will help promote good eating habits for all. These standards give schools the freedom to be creative in their menus, but continue to restrict unhealthy foods so as to better guarantee our children eat well.
I am further pleased to point out that the nursery milk scheme is available to all children under five who attend an eligible childcare setting, including child minders and nurseries. The scheme enables children under five to receive free of charge 189 ml (1/3 pint) of milk for each day they attend for two hours or more. Thus, I would like to reassure you that the Government is committed to providing appropriate nutrition for our youngest children.
I hope that these schemes, as well as future considerations, will best encourage healthy styles of living in our most innocent and vulnerable people.