Research conducted by LACA (Local Authority Caterers Association) and ParentPay, published at the start of National School Meals Week 2012, reveals that the majority of parents (92%) want to see all schools – whether state maintained, academies or free schools – abiding by a set of nutritional standards laid down by Government for school food.
They also say they want to see an independent body to monitor schools to ensure the standards are met.
The poll findings also show parental backing for many of Jamie Oliver’s School Meal Manifesto ideas.
The celebrity chef said:
“It’s blatantly clear from the outcome of the LACA/ParentPay survey – which is a direct representation of what busy parents in this day and age actually think – what a humungous impact health has on our lives.
“I just hope that they show the results to Mr Gove and that he does something positive with the data”.
Parents want compliance with nutritional standards
With more than 12,000 parents responding to the 2012 Survey, this year’s poll is the biggest of its kind to date into parental views of school food services and lifestyles.
The survey found that while parents might want all schools to be compliant with nutritional standards, awareness of whether their own child’s school currently abides by them was low.
Less than half (41%) said they knew that their child’s school was meeting them and a greater proportion (57%) said they did not know.
State maintained schools have been required to follow nutritional standards by law since 2008-2009, while academies and free schools are expected by the Government to comply with them voluntarily.
Interestingly, 92% of academy parents said they, too, want to see all schools legally required to abide by nutritional standards.
But as with state maintained school parents, they did not know if their child’s school was currently following the standards.
Parents satisfied with school meals
Meanwhile, an even greater number of parents than in last year’s survey indicated their satisfaction with school meals. Just over 90% were very happy or happy with the service, compared to 89% last year. And nearly three quarters (72%) put the quality of the food as the most important criteria when buying a school meal.
An overwhelming majority of 88% said service delivery was meeting or exceeding their expectations.
Food and good health
This year’s findings show parents are highly aware of the link between food and good health. On average, parents say they or a family member cook with their child nearly five times (4.7) a week using fresh or raw ingredients.
Although they cook regularly at home with their children, 98% also want children to be taught to cook as part of the national curriculum, and that it should include education on where food comes from and when food is in season.
Although almost all parents (97%) claimed they had sufficient information about the link between food and good health, nearly half (46%) still said that if they had better information it would be benefit their family.
School meals: powerful weapons in fighting childhood obesity
Commenting on the findings, Clint Wilson, Chief Executive, ParentPay said:
| “Of the 81.7% of parents wanting to pay online, 62.3% attributed this to knowing money is spent on a healthy school meal, rather than on sweets on the way to school.
“With 92% wanting Government standards in all schools, parents clearly recognise the importance of a healthy school meal to their children’s health. “The fact that one in three parents wants to see more information about school meals online, reinforces that parents remain engaged with this important issue. “School meals are one of our most powerful weapons in fighting childhood obesity – that puts school catering staff on the front line in tackling public health issues.”
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