Every week tens of thousands of nutritious meals are enjoyed by students - from traditional favourites like roast dinners, sausage and mash, chicken curry and fish and chips to lighter options like vegetable casserole, jacket potatoes, fishcakes and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
The tasty menus have been developed with help from pupils, parents and school catering staff, and also include special menus celebrating events like Diwali, Bonfire Night and Chinese New Year.
The number of pupils in Wolverhampton enjoying school meals has increased this year thanks to the introduction of the Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme last autumn, which means all Key Stage 1 pupils - those in Reception and Year 1 and Year 2 - are eligible for a free lunch.
However, not all parents are taking up the opportunity open to them and so Wolverhampton City Council is organising the pizza parties for all primary school pupils on Thursday (15 January, 2015) so those that aren't can see what they are missing. The menu includes a main course of pizza and garlic bread followed by waffles or jelly.
Councillor Phil Page, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Learning, said: "The meals served up in our primary and secondary schools are not only delicious, balanced and nutritious, but they also save mum and dad time having to prepare a packed lunch every day.
"Our experienced and dedicated catering staff are trained not only in food hygiene, but also in nutrition and allergy awareness, taking pride in producing meals that are healthy and satisfy a wide range of tastes and requirements.
"We're keen for as many pupils as possible to enjoy school meals, and I'd invite pupils who don't currently have a school meal to come along to the pizza party and taste some of the excellent fare which is on offer on a daily basis."
Parents of pupils who don't normally take a school meal but who wish them to join the pizza party are advised to contact their school beforehand to confirm their attendance in order to avoid disappointment.
Like all school meals, the pizza party is free for all 8,300 Key Stage 1 pupils in Wolverhampton, as well as those in Key Stage 2 who meet certain eligibility requirements. For all other pupils, the pizza party is charged at the standard school meal rate.
To check out the primary and secondary school menus, which are offered on a 3 week rotating basis, please visit Type=articles;Articleid=2945;Title=School menus;.
- released: Thursday 8 January, 2015