ONGOING problems with the delivery of free school meals means Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset schools risk falling short of the Government’s target in a forthcoming census.

A national census on the uptake of the Government’s free school meals initiative will be held in October and, because of the problems with supplier Chartwells, many Dorset schools will not meet the 87 per cent take up rate upon which funding was allocated.

A low take-up rate could potentially mean the Department for Education reduces future free school meal funding to local schools.

But all three councils say they are working closely with the DfE to explain the problems and are hopeful funding will not be affected.

They said the DfE were fully aware of the situation with Chartwells, which left many schools without the meals they had ordered in the first few days of term.

Many schools are now receiving a packed lunch service, but complaints about the quality of these has meant some families have chosen to provide their own lunches.

Sarah Tough, director for children's services at Dorset County Council, said there would be a second census in January, by which time uptake should have increased to a normal level.

“We are working closely with the DfE to ensure the average of the two censuses reflects the likely uptake of meals throughout the year as this is the number which will be used to provide funding for the meals as we do each year,” she said.

“The DfE is aware of the difficulties Chartwells have had in the first few weeks of term, and understands the robust steps Dorset, Bournemouth, and Poole have taken to support their schools and ensure a fully operational service.”

Bournemouth council said it was in discussions with the Department for Education about the implications of failing to meet the target.