MORE than 200 extra staff have been recruited to cope with an anticipated 40 per cent increase in infants eating hot lunches at schools.

The extra staff have been taken on by Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen councils to help roll out the government’s new free school meals initiative.

Schools expect to see a 35 to 40 per cent increase in infants having meals.

National trials achieved about 87 per cent total uptake and education bosses think it will be similar or possibly higher in East Lancashire.

Roger Eakhurst, Lancashire County Council’s assistant director responsible for school catering, said: “It's been quite a challenge to ensure that Lancashire’s 40,500 Key Stage 1 pupils can have free school meals when they return for the autumn term, but I’m pleased to say we’re on target. Our operations managers have been talking to schools for some months now to help them get ready.

“We’ve been hard at work on nearly 200 projects, funded by the government, mostly to upgrade kitchens, but also installing large equipment and in a few cases a full new kitchen.”

He added: “The majority of schools will also need more light kitchen equipment – pots, pans, plates, and so on – and around 200 extra staff have also been recruited for schools across the county.

“Children usually eat in the dining room, whether eating hot school food or their own packed lunches, and although dining rooms will be busier, most schools will continue to operate the same lunchtime routines as before.

“A nutritious hot lunch has been shown to be very beneficial for children and in Lancashire I am pleased to say that we have already adopted the new national menu planning standards ahead of schedule.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council also announced it too was ready to provide the meals, despite initial fears about a £150,000 cash shortfall.

Dave Harling, executive member for schools and education at Blackburn with Darwen, said: “All of our schools will be able to deliver Universal Infant Free School Meals from the start of term.

“Schools have decided how to organise school meal delivery with advice from the council when requested.”