AN INFANT school head has defended her decision to cut hot meals claiming: “It’s teachers or temperature.”

Around 400 youngsters at Bournemouth’s Queens Park Infant Academy will get cold lunches from September because “budgets are tight” said head teacher Alison Smith.

She said fewer staff were needed to serve cold lunches but stressed meals would still meet high nutritional standards and remain free of charge The decision means the jobs of some lunch time staff at the East Way school are at risk.

But Mrs Smith said teaching staff would have to be reduced if cuts were not made elsewhere.

“Unfortunately it’s teachers or temperature” she said. “In order to set a balance budget for next year we need to make some unwelcome cuts.

“For us it has been a very difficult decision, which we reluctantly had to make to minimise the effect the necessary cuts will have on our children’s education.”

Meals are provided by catering company Chartwells and are currently heated and served at the school. Washing up is also performed there.

Mrs Smith said cold lunches would be quicker and easier to serve, meaning pupils, who are aged between four and seven-years-old, will have 30 minutes to eat and 30 minutes to play during their lunch time break.

She told parents: “The money we receive from the government for free school meals does not cover all our current staffing cost of providing hot meals.

“By moving to a cold lunch service we can cut our staffing costs dramatically whilst still providing the same level of nutrition and choice.”

She said her aim is to ensure the education of the children is not affected by financial cuts and added: “Unfortunately, as is the situation in many companies, budgets are tight and this year we have to make some cuts. We have looked primarily to budget cuts other than classroom staff and resources.”

The decision has not been popular with all parents. One told the Daily Echo: “I think it is important for such young children to have access to a hot meal.

“A lot of parents have to go to work so children don’t get a hot meal in the evening.”

Before making the decision, Mrs Smith took advice from the Children’s Food Trust, which told her: “Although schools are encouraged to provide hot meals it is not mandatory. However it is mandatory that all food provided meets the revised food standards.”

Hot v Cold

CATERING company Chartwells produces both hot and cold lunches, all of which meet nutritional requirements. Here are some sample menus for the first four days of next week.

MONDAY:

Hot: Beef burger or Shepherdess vegemince pie with diced potatoes, baked beans and lemon sponge and custard.

Cold: Tuna mayonnaise or egg mayonnaise roll with mixed crudite, a fresh orange and a flap jack.
TUESDAY:

Hot: Chicken pasta or vegetable curry with wholegrain rice, sweetcorn and banana mousse.

Cold: Chicken mayonnaise or cheese slice roll with cherry tomato, a fresh apple and fruit jelly

WEDNESDAY:

Hot: Cottage pie or cheese and tomato pasta bake with mixed vegetables, mixed crudite and chocolate sponge and custard.

Cold: Ham and cheese wrap or salad and houmous wrap with cucumber, a fresh pear and a chocolate brownie.

THURSDAY: 

Hot: Roast chicken with gravy or roast vegetable loaf with gravy with mashed potato, green beans and fruit salad

Cold: Tuna mayonnaise or egg mayonnaise sandwich with cherry tomato, a fresh apple and Muller yoghurt.


All meals are seved with fresh drinking water and gluten-free options are available.