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The conversation moves on to discuss the breakfast club program, having now been in place since 2018. Many schools supported to provide breakfast in school & during the pandemic, many were delivered to pupils homes. A new contract will be in place to continue this from Sept 2021

Next meeting will be June. Thanks to all who attended. A lot covered, great speakers and lots of great working going on in the school food sector

Great to see everyone at today’s School Food Plan Alliance meeting. We start with Dr Nick Capstick OBE, CEO The White Horse Federation. Nick runs 30+ schools and recognises the importance of school food and the impact it has on education and the wider issues affecting young children

Dr Nick Capstick The White Horse Federation gives a passionate presentation re the need for a review of #schoolfood in England. Feeding a child a nutritious hot meal at lunchtime is a high priority in some schools, but not all, and Nick highlights the values of making it so. #LevellingUp

Zoe McIntyre The Food Foundation updates on key recommendations within (& affecting) the Nat Food Strategy. Extending Free School Meals, ‘Sugar Tax’, Holiday Activities & Food Programme (HAF) all covered and of interest to Alliance Members. Wide support for the review & Strategy

Recognition that the National Food Strategy has many recommendations, some more favourable than others. The Alliance will review and feed into the conversation. Recognition this is a great foundation to build upon.

Hanna Cohen is on next updating on Bite Back. To see more visit their website. A number of schools have signed up already, focused on the importance of school food, the dining environment, what does good look like etc. Bite Back has youngsters at the heart of all it does

Colette Fox from ProVeg UK shares their aims and objectives, working with caterers to make school meals healthier. Interesting update on their success in schools and how they are encouraging pupils to eat more meat free

Katie Shore Department for Education updates the Alliance on School Food Standards and the Healthy School Rating Scheme. On going conversation and will update members ASAP.

Jo Wilson Department for Education confirms the recent award of the contract for breakfast provision, managed by Family Action. Circa £24million

We are once again meeting on zoom rather than in person but that doesn’t make the subjects discussed any less important. School Food is at the heart of all we do and no better place to start than with the NEW Chair of LACA Jacquie Blake who took post at the recent Conference

Jacquie’s day job is as manager for Nottingham City so knows only too well the issues school caterers are facing and is expanding on the difficulties, but more importantly, the solutions caterers are finding. Jacquie sets out her ambitions for LACA during her year.

Jacquie applauds the hard work of front line staff. Difficult start to the new term with rising prices and issues with supply. Natasha’s law now in place and of course affecting school caterers, but positive for the industry. LACA working hard to secure increase in UIFSM funding

On behalf of the Alliance, we wish you well Jacquie during your year and look forward to working with LACA collaboratively for the benefit of all.

Next to speak is James Bielby from the FWD updating on the challenges within the wholesale sector. From fuel to lack of drivers the impact on schools is real and daily orders are difficult to fulfil. James highlights schools continue to be a priority for the industry

Next up is Dan Parker from Veg Power updating on the ‘Eat them to Defeat them’ campaign, now in year 3… new tv ad was well received using famous celebs to do voiceovers. Great traction from schools, caterers, suppliers and parents. Using taster sessions to encourage uptake

Fun is an essential motivator for Primary Children and at the heart of a lot of ⁦Veg Power⁩ approach, with positive results/effectiveness.

Naomi Duncan ChefsinSchools explains what they do and how the charity works. Now working with 52 schools, the focus of all they do supports the ethos of the school food plan. Current focus is around raising the profile of school caterer & reinforcing the school food standards

Last to talk is Katie Shore from DfE. Priorities are School Food Standards, National Food Strategy and Breakfasts. The pandemic has obviously impacted on the availability of Ministers but Katie and her team are working hard to move the key agendas forward ASAP

Good luck to everyone taking part in LACA National School Meals Week . Day three of National School Meals Week… Have fun and thank you to all the amazing school catering teams who work so hard each day, feeding pupils with healthy, nutritious hot food.