Secondary school meals drive

SECONDARY school pupils will be targeted during this year's National School Meals Week in England and Wales in a campaign emphasising the need for healthy eating and regular exercise.

Roger Davis, chairman of the Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA), said the first National School Meals Week last year had concentrated on the primary age group, with a Deano the Dinosaur roadshow visiting schools around the country.

This year two Deano roadshows will tour primary schools, with two other road- shows touring secondary schools using the slogan "Keeping the balance".

Mr Davis was addressing around 35 potential sponsors at Caterer's offices last week, kicking off a campaign to raise support for the week, which will take place from4 to 11 November.

According to LACA figures, last year's week improved meal uptake by around 9% into the start of the spring term, adding £10m to the annual school meal spend.

Mr Davis stressed, however, that the real benefit lay in highlighting the importance of school meals, with many families relying on them to guarantee their children one hot meal a day.

"What we do is not just a commercial venture," said Mr Davis. "We're doing something that really matters to ordinary people in this country."

Last year's week received support from the primeminister as well as 30Labour MPs.