THE cost of school dinners for children in York is going up to £2.20 a day – making them one of the most expensive in the region.
From September, lunch at the majority of the city’s schools will rise by 5p from £2.15 a day to £2.20.
The only area to be more expensive is the East Riding of Yorkshire, which is boosting costs for primary school children from £1.95 to £2 and from £2.20 to £2.30 for secondary school pupils.
The price rise, which will affect 50 of York’s 67 schools, was given the go-ahead by the council, who cited the rising cost of living.
Margaret Morrissey, founder of campaign group Parents’ Outloud, said: “For parents with more than one child on a limited income, it will probably mean they are not going to get a school lunch and that’s a real concern. It’s up to the local authority to see if they can find some grant or support to see if they can help people with the cost of school meals.”
The majority of York’s schools are provided by ISS Facility Services, whose contract means they can change the cost of meals annually but must not go above the Retail Price Index (RPI), council documents state. The Liberal Democrats criticised the council for “hiding” the two per cent increase by leaving the decision to officers so no report was publicised and parents were not given the chance to comment on the changes.”
Coun Carol Runciman, Lib Dem leader, said: “So far it seems Labour cabinet members are all too keen to get publicity when they are announcing what they think is good news, but are not so willing to be held to account for anything they think might be unpopular.”
Coun Ruth Potter, cabinet member for education, children and young people, said Coun Runciman knew the decision could be made by officers and said the decision was published on the council website.
She said: “There have been lengthy discussions with the contractors and we have tried our best to hold the price, but everybody knows the prices of food has increased.
“This is the first price rise in school meals for two years.”
She said the rise was below inflation at the time of the decision and schildren would receive healthy meals. The cost of school meals in York was last raised from £2.05 to £2.15 in September 2009.
The decision does not affect the 2,357 pupils currently entitled to free school meals in York.
York schools which have different caterers or in-house catering are: Haxby Road Primary. Hob Moor Primary, Hob Moor Oaks Special School, Huntington Primary, New Earswick Primary, Ralph Butterfield Primary, Robert Wilkinson Primary, St Barnabas’ CE Primary, Yearsley Grove Primary, Westfield Primary, Archbishop Holgate’s CE School, Burnholme Community College, Fulford School, Huntington School, Joseph Rowntree School, Manor CE School and York High School.
Meals hike must not hit take-up
IT IS just what hard-working parents didn’t need: another rise in costs.
We’ve had soaring gas, electricity and food prices. Now school meals are to go up as well.
From September, the cost of a meal in most York schools will rise by 5p to £2.20 – making the city’s school dinners amongst the most expensive in Yorkshire.
An extra 5p may not sound like very much. But if you have more than one child, it all adds up.
And given that many parents are already struggling to cope with the general increase in the cost of living, this may just be enough to make them think again about school dinners – and give their children a pack-up instead.
That would be desperately sad. School dinners may not be the ultimate in haute cuisine, but at least there is some attempt to ensure they are balanced.
For the children of some busy parents, the school lunch may be the only chance they have to get a proper square meal.
A pack-up isn’t the same – especially if pester-power leads to them being filled with crisps and chocolate.
Ruth Potter, the council’s executive member for education, children and young people, points out that this is the first rise in the cost of school meals in York for two years – and that it is below the rate of inflation.
That may be so. It is also true that more than 2,300 children from the poorest families in York get free school meals and won’t be affected.
For struggling parents who do have to pay, however, this is another unwanted increase. We just hope it doesn’t lead to a fall in the number of children getting a decent school dinner.
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