The School Lunch Grant was available from April 2008 until March 2011.
What was the School Lunch Grant?
The School Lunch Grant was a specific, ring-fenced grant made to local authorities and schools until March 2011. Its aim was to increase the number of children eating healthy school meals by helping schools and councils keep down the price of a school lunch. It could only be used in four ways – to:
- Pay for ingredients for school lunch;
- Pay labour costs of catering staff;
- Buy small pieces of kitchen equipment, for example, microwaves, ovens, combi-ovens, mixers etc.;
- Pay for the nutrient analysis software required to assess whether a menu meets the national school lunch standards and the expertise to operate the software.
Is the grant still available?
Yes, the grant is still available. However, as of April 2011, the grant is no longer ringfenced. Instead, it now forms part of schools’ baseline budgets from the Department for Education. It’s important for schools to continue to invest in good food for children because of the return it offers for their learning, behaviour and health. As schools take more control of their budgets, it’s an opportunity to make sure their catering services work well for them. We’re here to help any school wanting advice on getting the best possible value for children from their school meals service.
Further information can be found on the Department for Education website here:
www.education.gov.uk/b0065551/what-does-the-spending-review-mean-for-me/schools
