Poll shows school meal changes backed by parents

Research conducted by LACA and ParentPay, published at the start of National School Meals Week 2011, shows that after six years of funding to improve standards, 89% of parents are satisfied with their child's school meals. More than 10,000 parents were questioned in the biggest poll of its kind to coincide with National School Meals Week, which also launches today. The Survey also found that the majority of parents have become more nutritionally savvy and eager to keep tabs on their children's diet indicating that Government health and nutritional guidance is paying off. However, with dedicated funding for school meals under threat, and the exemption of academies and free schools from the nutritional standards, the Government could face a backlash from parents as the hard work of school caterers is undone by a lack of finances and a policy shift. The poll also revealed: • 96% want children to learn to cook at school • 81% want to be able to pay for school meals online • 15% of those entitled to free school meals don't eat them • 80% of parents want more information about what their children have for lunch Lynda Mitchell, LACA National Chair said: "Winning over hearts, minds and bodies in the drive to reduce obesity and build healthier lifestyles calls for a united front. "In terms of improving the health and lifestyles of children and young people, we are all in this together. It is great, therefore, to see parent power playing its part behind the scenes. "School caterers want to work in partnership with parents and their children's schools as well as education and health professionals to ensure we can continue to provide good, nutritious food from which children and young people can benefit, both academically and physically". Commenting on the findings, Clint Wilson, chief executive of ParentPay, said: "It is interesting to see the number of parents who want to pay online. Ninety four per cent of parents find online payment easy but they were also pleased it helped reduce bullying. "With some caterers reporting up to half of what's handed over the breakfast table for school meals never reaches school, 58% of parents said they paid online to stop money being spent on the high street ensuring their child received a healthy school meal." Adding her views on this latest research, Sharon Hodgson, Shadow Minister for Children and Families says: "The report highlights some positives, including that parents are increasingly aware that school meals are of good quality and provide a nutritionally balanced meal for their children. However, clearly more needs to be done to ensure that those who are eligible for free school meals take up their entitlement, both by finding ways of removing the stigma many still associate with it, and making sure that parents are aware of the impact that a good lunch can have on a young person's ability to concentrate and learn in class, and on their health." Running all this week, National School Meals Week features different themes for each day. Today's theme of Get Eating is an invitation for local politicians, celebrities, media and sports people to have a school meal as part of Britain's Biggest School Lunch. On Tuesday, Get Travelling is about going global and encouraging pupils to learn about food from around the world. Wednesday (Get Creating) encourages pupils to have fun with food, while on Thursday (Get 5-a-day) is supported by Change4Life and linked with the charity Mary's Meals, which provides food for children in developing countries. On Friday the theme Get Remembering will feature an interview with Falklands War hero Simon Weston about the importance of the 11th day of the 11th month and what it stands for. Offering her best wishes to LACA for a successful National School Meals Week, Sarah Teather, Minister of State (Children and Families) said: "Healthy school meals help make sure that pupils are well nourished, develop healthy eating habits and concentrate and learn in school. "Every day,