TASTY dishes are being rustled up at Tredworth Infant School, with the number of pupils eating them going up ahead of the introduction of a government-led school meals initiative.
The school started cooking hot school meals on site two years ago, which has proven to be a real success. Pupils can choose what they want in the morning and parents can view the menu online.
On Friday, they eat a roast dinner and on other days the menu includes lasagne, barbecue chicken, vegetarian options, baked potato, panini and desserts.
Headteacher Roberta Camble said: "The pupils love the school dinners. The numbers of pupils eating them have gone up. Around 160 children out of 220 pupils have hot dinners. Lunchtime is an important time to eat and pupils are eating a variety of foods. We have noticed an improvement in concent ration.
"We have always served hot dinners from outside caterers but for the past two years we have made our own dinners on site using locally-sourced ingredients."
At the moment, pupils pay for the dinners but the Government has introduced a universal infant free school meals project, which will see every child in reception, year one and year two eat a free hot meal in state-maintained schools.
Preparations are under way in several schools in Gloucestershire ahead of the project, which starts in September.
Julie Guest, head teacher at Churchdown Village Infant School, said: "We do serve hot meals but they are provided by a catering company based in Swindon Village.
"However, we applied for a grant from the grant academy so we could build our own kitchen, which is now complete.
Back in December the catering company which provided meals for us went bust and we held a consultation with parents.
"We asked them if they wanted us to go back to a previous company, chose another company or apply for the grant so we can build our kitchen. They requested that we applied for funding and build the kitchen.
"From September we can prepare all our food on site and use locally sourced healthy ingredients. We will be showing our menu to the children in July."
Hayley McGoldrick, from Littledean Church of England Primary School, said: "Edwards and Ward provide our meals. A couple of weeks ago we did a trial run where we offered free meals to pupils and many took the chance to try the food out and this gave the staff an idea of how it will be in September. We were a bit worried that it would be chaotic but we managed fine."
Paul Needham, headteacher at Kingsway Primary School, said: "The number of pupils who eat hot dinners has increased since we recruited our cook Cathy Morris. The meals come from Edwards and Ward, but Cathy cooks and puts the dishes together. A third of the school eats hot meals and pupils are fond of her dishes.which include soup and baguettes. Cathy made all the sandwiches for our sports day, which everyone including parents enjoyed during the picnic.
"Hot meals are very good for pupils' concentration and it gives them a variety of foods to eat. A lot of pupils socialise at lunchtimes too. From September we have staggered the timings of lunch so we keep the pupils flowing."
Gloucestershire County Council has been working with the 244 schools across the county affected by the changesto preapre for the project to ensure appropriate measures are in place before September. A total of 244 schools in Gloucestershire to be offering all reception, year one and year two pupils a free school meal.
Councillor Paul McLain, cabinet member for children and young people said:"Research has shown that a tasty and nutritious free school meal help children to develop positive eating habits which improve children's learning and productivity whilst easing pressure on family budgets.
