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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Schools 'need kitchen improvements' for free meals | Schools 'need kitchen improvements' for free meals |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More than 2,700 schools in England will need to improve kitchens to provide free meals for infant school children, according to new figures. | More than 2,700 schools in England will need to improve kitchens to provide free meals for infant school children, according to new figures. |
| Freedom of Information figures obtained by the BBC found this to be about one in three schools assessed so far. | Freedom of Information figures obtained by the BBC found this to be about one in three schools assessed so far. |
| Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced the policy at last year's Liberal Democrat conference. | Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced the policy at last year's Liberal Democrat conference. |
| The Department for Education has provided funding for improvements and said it is offering support to schools. | The Department for Education has provided funding for improvements and said it is offering support to schools. |
| According to the most recent figures from January 2012, there are more than 16,800 state primary schools in England. | According to the most recent figures from January 2012, there are more than 16,800 state primary schools in England. |
| Outside providers | Outside providers |
| The work needed ranges from a new microwave or dishwasher to a full refurbishment. | The work needed ranges from a new microwave or dishwasher to a full refurbishment. |
| The figures also showed that more than 1,700 schools had no kitchen at all. | The figures also showed that more than 1,700 schools had no kitchen at all. |
| These will have hot meals delivered by external caterers, or cooked at neighbouring schools and transported in as many currently do. | These will have hot meals delivered by external caterers, or cooked at neighbouring schools and transported in as many currently do. |
| Some of the 152 local authorities who provided information said their funding allocation was adequate to make necessary improvements, others said it fell short of estimated costs. | Some of the 152 local authorities who provided information said their funding allocation was adequate to make necessary improvements, others said it fell short of estimated costs. |
| In many schools lunchtimes will be staggered or extended in order to seat all pupils in small halls. | In many schools lunchtimes will be staggered or extended in order to seat all pupils in small halls. |
| Schools Minister David Laws told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he was "not complacent" about the problems, but a service set up to help introduce the policy was "yet to find a school that with the right support and advice cannot actually deal with these issues". | Schools Minister David Laws told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he was "not complacent" about the problems, but a service set up to help introduce the policy was "yet to find a school that with the right support and advice cannot actually deal with these issues". |
| "The anecdotal evidence and the noise that you tend to get will tend to be from what can sometimes be a small minority of schools, and I take their concerns seriously," he said. | "The anecdotal evidence and the noise that you tend to get will tend to be from what can sometimes be a small minority of schools, and I take their concerns seriously," he said. |
| "But what you don't hear about, and what I do hear about, is the vast majority of schools that are on track to deliver this." | "But what you don't hear about, and what I do hear about, is the vast majority of schools that are on track to deliver this." |
| Critics say the deputy prime minister's policy was rushed through and is proving to hard to implement. Some schools may have to offer sandwiches in September instead of hot meals. | Critics say the deputy prime minister's policy was rushed through and is proving to hard to implement. Some schools may have to offer sandwiches in September instead of hot meals. |
| 'Shown to work' | 'Shown to work' |
| A Department for Education spokesman said: "School lunches for all infant children will save parents money, improve children's education and make sure more children eat a healthy and nutritious meal at least once a day. | A Department for Education spokesman said: "School lunches for all infant children will save parents money, improve children's education and make sure more children eat a healthy and nutritious meal at least once a day. |
| "Universal free school meals have already been shown to work in the pilot schemes run by the Department for Education and Department of Health in 2009. | "Universal free school meals have already been shown to work in the pilot schemes run by the Department for Education and Department of Health in 2009. |
| "Indeed, schools have had longer to prepare for the introduction of universal free school meals this September than schools in those pilot areas had in 2009. | "Indeed, schools have had longer to prepare for the introduction of universal free school meals this September than schools in those pilot areas had in 2009. |
| "Schools are receiving a huge amount of support to provide free school meals. We are providing £150m to improve kitchens and dining facilities, as well as an additional £22.5m specifically to help smaller schools to provide these meals." | "Schools are receiving a huge amount of support to provide free school meals. We are providing £150m to improve kitchens and dining facilities, as well as an additional £22.5m specifically to help smaller schools to provide these meals." |
| Under the scheme, all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children in state-funded schools in England will be entitled to free school meals from September. | Under the scheme, all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children in state-funded schools in England will be entitled to free school meals from September. |
| Will you be affected by this decision? Please email bbchaveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with 'School Dinners' the subject title to share your thoughts with us. |