Parents were invited back to school to sample school meals at The Firs School in Chester.
Many hadn't tasted school food since their own childhood and found the initiative a refreshing change, and were surprised at how good the food was.
On the menu was roast pork, butternut squash and basil frittata, roast potatoes and buttered carrots with apple crumble and custard to follow, all freshly prepared on site daily.
The Firs has a 75% take up for school meals, one of the best in the area and the highest possible food hygiene rating from Cheshire West and Chester Council. It contracts its catering out to specialists Holroyd Howe.
David Laybourne is chef and catering manager, dishing up more than 170 lunches Monday to Friday most weeks.
He is often called on to cook tasty dishes for special and educational events at the school, like the recent World Book Week-themed lunches for India, Italy and France.
He added: “Last month we held carrot week in which three different coloured carrots were tried, purple, yellow and orange. The children really enjoyed seeing if they tasted any different.
“Children are very honest and opinionated about their food preferences. My job is to get them to try new experiences with food to see how much they can learn about the importance of local, freshly prepared good food that is nutritional and great fun to eat!”
Several parents commented on the ‘Back to School Dinners’ initiative.
Annette Wilmot said: “I really enjoyed having lunch in school with Nathan. What a great idea!”
Jenny Dawson added: “Thank you for inviting me to lunch today with Years 4 and 1. It was really nice to be there and experience part of the children's school day first hand.
“Thanks to the chef for a tasty meal and to the lunchtime assistants who have got a very slick process off to a fine art; dealing with so many children and their meals in a short time.
“It was noticeable what a good relationship they have with the children who were so very well behaved.”
