1. BIRMINGHAM MAIL, MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014 15
All the latest news at www.birminghammail.co.uk NEWS
‘‘
Well over a
million infants
are enjoying a
school meal at
lunchtime... the
naysayers about
this policy can
eat their hats,
and all the
leftover sprouts
DEPUTY PM
NICK CLEGG
Kidsbenefitas
theytuckinto
schooldinners
CRITICS of free school
meals have been told to
“eat their hats” after re-
vealing almost 200,000
pupils in the West Mid-
lands have benefited
from the controversial
scheme.
Free lunches for all
reception, Year 1 and Year
2 primary school pupils
were introduced by the
Government in Septem-
ber – at a cost of £1 billion
nationally.
Now new figures have
revealedhowmanypupils
have opted to take advan-
tage of the free meals,
which were criticised by
former education secre-
tary Michael Gove as
being “wholly unaccepta-
ble” as they diverted
funding away from teach-
ing.
In the West Midlands,
86.6 per cent of children
have chosen to benefit
from free school meals,
1.6 per cent more than the
national average.
It means 183,575
youngsters aged four to
seven in the region are
tucking into free food –
saving each family on
average £400 a year on the
price of providing packed
lunches.
Deputy Prime Minister
Nick Clegg said: “Well
over a million infants
across the children are
enjoying a school meal at
lunchtime, giving them a
better start to afternoon
lessons and a healthy
boost for their first years
in school.
“The other good news
for families is that this
saves them up to £400 per
child a year on the cost of
a packed lunch.
“The naysayers about
this policy can eat their
hats, and all the leftover
sprouts.”
Now the government is
encouraging even more
pupils to take up the free
meals, which are not
compulsory, claiming
they help children to
focus and concentrate
throughout the day.
A spokesman for Mr
Clegg said: “There is a real
need to address health
problems that are linked
to a poor diet, with almost
20 per cent of children
being obese by the time
they leave primary
school.
“Evidence clearly
shows that childhood eat-
ing habits stay with you
for life, which is why it’s
vital to address this prob-
lem from a very young
age.”
Nutritionist Amanda
Ursell said a common
misconception is that a
packed lunch is healthier
than a school meal.
“In fact only one per
cent of packed lunches
meet the nutritional
standards that currently
apply to school food,” she
said. “We know that a
healthy school lunch can
improve a child’s aca-
demic performance.
“Pilot studies showed
children eating a free
school meal were up to
twomonthsaheadoftheir
peers in maths and Eng-
lish.”
Emma McKinney
Education Correspondent
emma.mckinney@trinitymirror.com
Studies have shown that children eating a free school meal were
■
■
up to two months ahead of their peers in maths and English
PUPILS at a Birmingham
primary school have prov-
en to be among the smart-
est in the country after re-
ceiving top marks in a
reading test.
A whopping 97 per cent
of Year 1 pupils from
Brookvale Primary School
this passed the phonics
screening check in the last
academic year – an
impressive 23 per cent
above the national average
of 74 per cent.
It makes the pupils at
the school in Mallard
Drive, Erdington, among
the top five per cent in the
country.
Across the country
600,000 five and six-year-
olds took part in the check
– which sees all children
being tested to ensure that
they are able to read pho-
netically.
This means they recog-
nise the sounds that are
said when they look at the
letters and can blend the
sounds together to read
words.
Head teacher Claire Fin-
kelsaid:“Weareincredibly
proud that our hard work
has ensured that children
are getting the best start to
their early reading devel-
opment.
“If children are able to
pass the phonics test, we
are confident that they are
successful early readers.”
The news comes after
the Mail has launched its
Born and Read campaign
to boost literacy levels
across the city.
We have teamed up with
children’s reading charity
Beanstalk, the city’s Adult
Education Service and the
Library of Birmingham to
run the campaign.
We need volunteers
willing to devote up to
three hours per week to
inspire a child to read.
Anyone wanting to take
part can email bornan-
dread@trinitymirror.com
or call 0121 234 5188.
Primaryschoolpupilsbag
topmarksinreadingtest
Artworkshopat
BlakesleyHall
A FREE art workshop
featuring the art of Hasret
Brown, inspired by
traditional Islamic
geometric designs, will
take place at Blakesley
Hall in Yardley on
Wednesday, January 14.
The event is suitable for
adults and children aged
12 years-plus and will take
place from 9.30am to
1.30pm.
For further details call
0121 464 2193.