TEMPLATE LETTER TO START ENGAGING WITH PARENTS ‘Everybody Eats’ free school meal proposal

Dear Parents/carers

We would also like to take this opportunity to discuss changes to school lunches starting in September 2023.

The proposal is about good food and happiness. It is about teaching our children the pleasures of growing, cooking and eating proper food. It is also about improving the well-being and academic performance of our children.

Many parents mistakenly imagine that a packed lunch is the healthiest option. It is far easier to get the necessary nutrients into a cooked meal. A national study found only 1% of packed lunches meet the nutritional standards that currently apply to school food.

Diet-related illnesses are putting a significant strain on the nation – costing the NHS billions every year. We are working every day to tackle the problem now before the costs (both personal and financial) become crippling for our country and the future of our students.

We aim to cook food that is both appetising and nutritious; make the dining hall a welcoming place; keep queues down; get the price right; allow children to eat with their friends; and get them interested and excited about cooking and growing food.

At Woodmansterne School, they sent out the following letter to parents, please copy and paste and use it as required.

Proposition

We propose that we ditch packed lunches for all pupils and get them eating hot school meals.

From September 2023, all children will be offered free school meals in primary schools, so we think this is a great opportunity to utilise this funding and get our children eating balanced and nutritious meals from an early age.

We will help your child to try new flavours and ensure they can do this at their own pace.

Any allergies or intolerances your child may have will be accounted for.

Here’s a quick list of pros and cons:

Pros –

• It’s free

• Nutritious and balanced diets for everyone

• Better concentration in class

• More time efficient for parents not having to meal plan or cook

• All allergies catered too

• Children enriched by exposure to new and exciting flavours