NEW rules will allow schools to drop the price of dinners but Warrington Borough Council has no plans to do so.
In a bid to combat cheap meals at takeaways, the Government has passed legislation allowing schools to offer food on a promotional basis.
The Department for Education said it wants to help schools tackle obesity by offering discounts.
Sarah Teather, children’s minister, said: “School meals beat takeaways hands down on the quality of food they serve, but up until now they have struggled to compete on price.
“Getting children into the school canteen is vital – the benefits of healthy school meals are clear.
“These new powers are an important step in tackling childhood obesity and will mean schools can help hard-pressed families.”
Under the guidelines incentives can be offered such as £1 meal deals for new pupils, special prices for siblings who use the canteen and cut price meals for a specific year group each day.
Previously prices had to be changed for all children at a school, or none at all.
But despite guidance any changes to meal prices are voluntary. There is currently no intention to lower food costs in Warrington schools.
Ann McCormack, assistant director of children and young people’s services at the council, said: “We do not have any plans to alter prices as our catering service offers both good quality meals and excellent value for money reflected in the steadily increasing take-up figures.”
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