More please '“ pupils enjoy first hot meals

Sixty pupils at South Bersted CE Primary School sat down on Monday to either sausage, beans and mashed potato or an oriental quorn and vegetable stir fry.

They were the first youngsters to enjoy a cooked lunch since West Sussex County Council controversially scrapped school meals. It is believed the last of the hot dinners to be served at the Church Lane school was in 1999.

Among those rapidly clearing their plates in the school hall on the first day was Jack Hammand (9). He finished off his sausages and mash and stated the meal was lovely.

'I would normally have a sausage roll, a chocolate bar and cookies for lunch, because I don't like sandwiches, but my mum said the food was making me naughty,' he explained.

'That's why I've had the dinner. I've never had a hot meal in school before. It was much more tasty than what I am used to have and did me much more good as well.

'It was really nice the way it was done '“ and there was a vegetarian option as well for those who don't eat meat.'

Fellow diner Peter Farndell (10) put away sausages, baked beans and mash. 'The meal was quite nice and there's apples and oranges for afters.

'I'm going to have a hot meal every lunchtime. They are better because they taste nice and they keep you going better,' he explained.

Headteacher Chris Silk immediately gave the go-ahead for South Bersted to become the first Bognor area school to re-introduce hot dinners.

'The children are getting a better meal at midday and that means their concentration will be better in the afternoon. Many of the children could do with a hot meal at lunchtime.

'It's meant sacrificing part of a storage cupboard to create the new kitchen but the benefits for the teachers and the school are worth it. I am very positive about this. It is an excellent idea,' he said.

Mr Silk has also taken on an extra dinner lady, or lunchtime supervisor as the job is now called, to ensure mealtimes pass smoothly. He was pleased with the success of Monday's initial session.

Also on the menu this week were beef casserole (Tuesday), sweet and sour chicken (Wednesday), Italian pasta beef bolognese (today) and smoked haddock (tomorrow). Desserts included spotted dick and rhubarb crumble with custard.

The children signed up for the meals are either those entitled to free school dinners or whose parents have paid 2 a day for the lunches.

Laburnum Grove Junior School started the meals on Tuesday as the new school meals system began to expand around Bognor. It is expected to be in 237 West Sussex schools by mid-2009. The system, called Esteam, works by supplying nutritionally balanced meals prepared off-site using fresh food. They are taken to the schools and cooked using microwave energy.

Pressure steaming means the food keeps its nutrients. The short cooking time maximises flavour and texture.

The meals service is a joint venture between schools' catering company Scolarest and the county council.

A Scolarest spokesman said: 'The system was developed by us to provide nutritious hot meals for schools, without the need for extensive new kitchen facilities.

'Only a limited amount of equipment is required, including refrigeration equipment and a number of Esteam ovens, depending on how many meals will be cooked.'