Nursery World - Parent power wins back hot nursery meals

Nine Edinburgh nurseries that lost their on-site catering facilities to council cost-cutting are to resume serving hot meals to children, following a successful campaign by parents and staff.

Princess Elizabeth, St Leonards, High School Yards, Spinney Lane,Calderglen and Balgreen nursery schools began serving hot meals onMonday (24 November).

Grassmarket, Stanwell and Hope Cottage are to have their kitchensre-opened once staff have been recruited.

Edinburgh council announced in May that it would be closing the kitchensin all but four of the city's council nurseries, and in six primaryschools. Hot meals were to be prepared in neighbouring schools andtransported in insulated boxes to the schools and nurseries (News, 15May).

However, parents complained that nursery children were only being givenunhealthy packed lunches that contained items like processed cheesesandwiches, muffins and jelly (News, 12 June).

Kirkliston Primary School will also have its kitchen re-opened. Parentsmanaged to more than double the number of children taking schools mealsat Kirkliston, from 40 to nearly 90.

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