Hundreds of thousands of free school meals have been served up to Wolverhampton pupils through a unique pilot scheme.
Primary and secondary schools across the city have just completed the first of a two-year free school meals extended eligibility scheme, which allows families that receive working tax credit to claim free meals.
During the first year of the pilot more than 305,000 extra meals were dished out to Wolverhampton children and young people.
Council chiefs are now reminding parents who signed up to the scheme during this year that they need to reapply to enjoy the benefits during 2010/11, while ‘new’ families will still be welcomed to take up the offer for a year.
Councillor Claire Darke, Cabinet Member for Schools, said: “The first year of this pilot scheme has been an enormous success.
“We are delighted that so many children and families across Wolverhampton have benefited from such a scheme.
“And the fact that we will be able to carry on the pilot for its second and final year means even more youngsters from low income families will be able to get healthy and wholesome meals at school.
“We are now reminding those who signed up last year that they need to re-register for the new term. Of course, those who didn’t take part but believe they might be eligible are also being urged to find out more details.”
Dr Adrian Phillips, director of public health for Wolverhampton, said: “This initiative has been great news for the city because more children from low income families have been able to get a free wholesome and healthy meal at lunchtime.
“This has not only improved children’s general health and wellbeing, but also their concentration at school. Together with other schemes such as the highly successful Food Dudes and the MEND programme, it is also playing its part in helping us tackle the city’s childhood obesity problem.”
Families across the city that receive working tax credit are able to claim free meals under the pilot, which is being funded by the Department for Education, Department for Health and Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust and supported by the School Food Trust.
