Denbighshire raises price of school meal by 20p

Denbighshire is increasing the cost of a school meal by 20p.

The county council says its catering service has faced an average price increase of 8% across all its food suppliers and as a result was raising the cost of a school meal by 20p from September 1. 

I points out that this is the first rise we have introduced in three years.

The council says: "The increase will also help us deliver contributions to savings agreed for the set council budget for this financial year. 

"Even after this increase, prices will still be relatively low compared to other local authority areas, and the service is confident that it is providing value for money in terms of the quality of food given to pupils across our schools."

It adds: "The School Catering Service has also just been recognised as one of the top six best performing services in the UK for 2019/2020.

"This recognition, from The Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE), is based upon comparisons with other school meals services from across the UK.

"It takes into account things such as food purchasing initiatives, school meal uptake, management costs, staff training/absence levels, communication to customers and more."

Examples of the meals provided to pupils by the service can be found here https://denbighshireschoolmeals.co.uk/primary-menus/