PUPILS, parents and carers are being asked for their views on school meals in York this month as part of a campaign to encourage more young people to eat them.

City of York Council has set up a group to look into the take-up of school meals generally and the take-up of free school meals specifically.

The group hopes feedback from school pupils and their families will show why:

• There is a relatively small increase in take-up of school meals across all York schools

• Some parents/carers who are entitled do not register and claim for free school meals

• Significant numbers of entitled pupils whose parents/carers have registered and claimed do not take up the offer of a free school meal

They also hope to explore the effectiveness of cashless payment systems for school meals and their impact on school meal take-up.

Mark Ellis, head of school services at City of York Council, said: “School meals have come a long way in the past few years since Jamie Oliver brought them to the public attention. Research shows that good nutrition is vital to supporting good learning and we want to find out why more pupils in York aren’t taking school meals, whether or not they’re entitled to free school meals.

“I’d urge everyone to email or write in with their views so we can make York’s school meals as tasty and accessible as possible.”

Email schoolmealsservice@york,gov.uk or write to Mark Ellis, West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA by Sunday, February 16.