Mayor tucks into healthy school meal with pupils at Darfield Valley School

MAYOR of Barnsley Cllr Margaret Morgan was among guests invited to a school dinner tasting session at Darfield Valley Primary School this week.

Cllr Morgan, her Consort, Gordon Morgan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Childrens Services, Cllr Linda Burgess, Gerry Hanson of Modern Schools Barnsley Ltd and Mick Brookes, PFI Contract Manager, enjoyed a healthy, hearty meal.

Darfield Valley is one of 13 primary learning centres and primary schools being built by Carillion.

As well as enjoying a new school building, pupils also have the choice of a healthy school meal from a menu designed to comply with new government standards for school lunches which came into force this month.

The guests were offered a choice from the pupils menu of healthy lamb burger, vegetable supreme pizza, beef curry, or jacket potatoi with mixed fillings along with mixed vegetables and salad items. There were also grab bags available containing a filled roll, a yogurt, a piece of fruit and a biscuit. 

They drank fresh water which is available on every dinner table daily.

Amongst the desserts on offer were yogurt, fromage frais, a selection of fresh fruit, muffins and cheese and biscuits.

Pupils from the school joined the invitees to chat about what they thought of the new menus. Guests and pupils alike had clean plates by the end of lunchtime.

Cllr Margaret Morgan said: It was great to see so many young children enjoying well-balanced, healthy meals. I spoke to many pupils about the new school dinners and they were full of praise for the food.

Cabinet Spokesperson for Childrens Services, Cllr Linda Burgess, said: It was good to test the meals provided in the new schools. I am pleased to know they conform with national government guidance on nutritional standards as well as being consistent with the work Barnsley Councils Cabinet and Scrutiny members have been doing to improve the standard of school meals.

ENDS

Issued by Hanna Kenrick, Corporate Communications, 01226 773375.

Email: hannakenrick@barnsley.gov.uk