Week of free healthy eating at revamped school

MORE than 400 pupils are being offered free school dinners for a week so they can celebrate their school's new kitchen facilities and sample a new healthy options menu.

Churnet View Middle School, in Leek, began the promotion yesterday and it is already going down a treat with children.

Every single pupil at the school is being given the chance to have the free meals.

Churnet View recently received more than £75,000 from the School Food Trust to refurbish its servery and kitchen facilities.

The work, carried out in partnership with Staffordshire County Council's catering service, is the first phase of a major redevelopment.

Later this year, the school will be installing a cashless payment system, and will also create a new dining area.

Headteacher Julia Turner, pictured, said: "By offering a whole week of free meals, we want to give everyone the opportunity to try all the new menu options and hopefully decide to carry on after the week has ended.

"We are aiming for every pupil to continue taking school meals and are committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle for every child."