They have commissioned a special 12-page issue of School Caterer written specifically for heads and outlining the benefits to nutrition and health, behaviour, attention, academic achievement and social skills it believes have already flowed from the introduction of UIFSM a year ago.
It is being sent out to nearly 18,000 head teachers during National School Meals Week (November 2-6).
The decision to lobby for support from head teachers follows suggestions that funding for UIFSM could be cut in Chancellor George Osbourne’s Autumn Budget Statement due on November 25th.
In his introduction for the special issue Peter McGrath thanks head teachers for their part in the ‘school team effort’ that saw UIFSM successfully introduced in September 2014.
He outlines the benefits already seen from the new school meals policy and points to support for them that has come in from healthcare experts, teachers and child welfare groups.
And concludes: “There is a petition urging the Government to retain UIFSM we ask you to join in and sign up: http//petition.parliament.uk/ petitions/107913
“We want to take this petition to 10 Downing Street prior to Comprehensive Spending Review and to maximise this opportunity we need 100,000 signatures.
“Thank you for your continued support.”