A SMALL increase in the price of the 70,000-plus school meals provided every day in Hampshire will come into effect in April – the first increase in six years.

To meet the rising costs of providing school meals, the 10p increase takes the cost per meal to £2.10. The county council believes they continue to represent good value for money for a two-course, freshly-cooked meal.

CouncillorKeith Mans, lead member for children’s services, said: “A healthy lunch at school contributes significantly to a child’s well-being and their capacity to learn through to the end of the school day.

“We are very proud of the high standard of school meals that our catering service (HC3S) provides, using locally sourced produce.”

But next year’s increase in the living wage will hit council wage bills for the school meals service heavily.