County Council to maintain school meal quality and size despite soaring costs

School pupils across Erewash and the wider county will continue to receive hot, healthy and nutritious meals of the same quality and size despite soaring food and staffing costs as Derbyshire County Council pledges to prioritise children’s health and protect local jobs.

Like other local authorities across the country, the council’s school catering service has been significantly affected by inflation and other factors driving up the cost of food and staffing. 

Due to statutory changes to wages, staffing costs for the service increased by more than £1.2m in April 2022. 

While the service has worked incredibly hard to keep costs low and not compromise on meal size or quality, prices will increase from the start of the September term. 

The increase will not affect families of Key Stage One pupils, who receive free school meals under the Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme or families of primary or secondary pupils who are eligible for benefit-related free school meals.

The council’s school catering service currently provides more than 60,000 hot meals to children at 358 schools across Derbyshire every day and the increase will solely be used to cover costs as the service is not legally allowed to make a profit. 

Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education Councillor Alex Dale said: “The decision to increase meal prices has been an incredibly difficult one which we’ve made very reluctantly, given the pressures we know families across the county are facing. However, unfortunately our catering service is not immune to the soaring costs of ingredients and staffing. 

“The increase has been calculated to only cover those increased costs so that the service can continue to be viable and sustainable for the future, and there is no intention - nor are we legally allowed - to make any profit from school meals. Our prices have always compared favourably to other local authorities and catering services.

“Evidence shows that a nutritious meal can boost a child’s ability to learn so it’s vitally important that we don’t compromise on quality, healthy ingredients or reduce meal portion sizes. It’s also particularly important that we continue to provide quality food for children in low-income families who may rely on us for a hot meal every day. 

“Our school catering service have been doing a fantastic job in a very challenging time and a portion of the price increase will cover increased staffing costs, helping to retain our 1,500 valued staff.

“We are acutely aware that the cost of living crisis continues to put lots of families under significant pressure and I’d encourage anyone who may be struggling to look at the support available through the Household Support Fund, check their eligibility for free school meals or get general support and advice details of which are available on our website.” 

Prices will increase from September 2023 on the primary paid meal charge to parents and carers by 95p to £3.25. There is more meal choice in secondary schools, but prices will increase by a comparable amount.

While schools can set their own meal prices the council sets a recommended price for schools across the county.

Schools can choose to charge a different rate if they wish but only within Education Act 1996 guidelines where the price charged for an item must not exceed the cost of providing it.

Families and residents can find support with the cost of living on Derbyshire County Council’s website at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/costofliving