Parents urged to apply for free school meals

Education Minister Peter Weir made the call as the new school year rapidly approaches.

The Minister said: “One of my Department’s aims is to raise standards in education and the importance of a healthy school meal in achieving this should not be underestimated.

“There is a recognised connection between healthy eating and improved learning and a nutritious school meal contributes to a young person’s growth and development.”

The ‘Food in Schools’ policy advocates a whole school approach to ensure that only healthy food is provided in schools and that young people develop the knowledge and skills to enable them to enjoy a healthy lifestyle as they progress through life.

And the Minister continued: “Eating a nutritious school meal can improve a child’s concentration, behaviour and their ability to learn in class.

“This ultimately leads to better educational outcomes. Parents have a role to play in encouraging healthy eating and embedding a lifelong habit that will ultimately lead to improved health in adult years.”

In 2015/16, 101,063 pupils were eligible for free school meals with 82,002 (81.1%) of eligible pupils availing of the service.

Further information is available at http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/nutrition-and-school-lunches