HAMPSHIRE County Council has announced it is freezing the price of school meals.
School dinners will be kept at £2 for the fifth consecutive year.
More and more pupils are now eating school meals, which are supplied by the council’s Catering Service (HC3S).
Around 10m meals are likely to be served in county council-run schools, which include those in Fareham, Gosport and Havant, by the end of the school year.
Councillor Roy Perry, the council’s lead member for children’s services said: ‘I am mindful that we are living in difficult economic times so I hope this news is welcomed by parents.
‘The high take-up has enabled us to hold the price for the fourth year in a row and in my view, these meals represent excellent value for money.
‘HC3S works closely with schools, pupils and parents to create varied menus that are healthy and tasty, and the service plays an important role in the development of healthy eating among children, which can be key to helping prevent problems such as obesity in later life.
‘It has also long been recognised that a child’s diet not only affects their physical health but also impacts on their behaviour, concentration and performance in the classroom.
‘The school meals service also provides a vital contribution towards supporting local food producers where possible, which is important for the development of the Hampshire economy.’
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