The whole subject of healthy eating and school meals has been in the media spotlight a great deal over the last few years. It started with Jamie Oliver and his programmes on Channel 4 and has been continued with various announcements about new Government initiatives.

We asked some of our headteachers and Councillors what they thought about the food served in their schools and why they would recommend a school lunch.

Denise Wells, Headteacher of Field House Infants School in Ilkeston told us "Lunchtime is a very important part of the whole school day but it isn't just about the food they eat. Children also learn how to behave in a dining area, how to interact with their friends and try foods they might not have at home. A healthy meal is really important as it sets a child up for afternoon and I would urge all parents to consider this as the best option for their child".

Denis Hanbury, Headteacher of Ripley Junior School, added "I regularly eat in the dining hall and the children love the meals on the menu and the opportunity to spend time with their friends. Our salad bar, bought with the ‘Jamie Oliver' money is a particular success. The meals are fantastic value for money and give the children lots of energy ready for the afternoon lessons"

Councillor Mike Longden said "I have two grandchildren at different primary schools in Derbyshire.  For one of them, it's her third school - but her first in Derbyshire.  It's the first time she's been prepared to even try school meals and she absolutely loves them. 

Both of our grandchildren talk about school dinners, and not just what they've eaten but the conversations they have with other children.  School meal times seem to provide great opportunities for developing friendships and social skills as well as being sure of getting a healthy meal at lunchtimes.

We can be very proud of our school meals service in Derbyshire and their increasing popularity is proof of that.  The service is dedicated to sourcing the best ingredients that will produce a nutritious and varied menu for all tastes.

This website provides you with lots of information to help you make the right choice about your child's lunchtime meal and it has also got some great fun games that you can play together."

Is your child entitled to free school meals?  You can find out more about free school meals here.