Kitchen boost at Stebonheath School

Latest news from Carmarthenshire Council’s press office – New kitchen cooks up a storm at Stebonheath
School meals are firmly back on the menu for pupils at Llanelli’s Stebonheath School thanks to a £100,000 overhaul of kitchen facilities.
Carmarthenshire County Council’s catering services department has invested in the school to convert its dining centre in to a full production facility, meaning that all schools meals are now cooked on the premises.
And the investment has gone down well with pupils, whose take-up of school meals has shot up from 38% to 76% since the beginning of the summer term.
Previously, school meals were prepared and cooked in a central kitchen facility and transported to the school.
The investment came after pupils on the school council highlighted the lunch service as an area for improvement.
They worked with the school’s deputy head, Julian Littler, to lobby the council for on-site production facilities which would allow a greater range of meals to be offered.
Adrian Mason, head teacher at Stebonheath School, said: “The children have been very keen to take up school meals since the new kitchen facilities were launched – it’s great to see how excited they are about having lunch!
“The children have worked very hard, alongside our deputy head, to get this facility at the school, and we are thrilled that it has been received so well.”
The investment is just the latest in a range of improvements in school kitchens across the county.
Since 2006/07, over £2million has been invested in improving kitchens, and a further £1.25million will be spent in 2009/10 and 2010/11. In some cases, this has meant the complete refurbishment of kitchens, such as those at Coedcae and Llannon schools.
Elin Cullen, Head of Business and Specialist Services, said: “We are thrilled with the uptake of school meals at Stebonheath – we have an excellent team of catering staff there who are making nutritionally balanced, exciting meals for children.
“We have considered very carefully the functions of the new kitchen, and have worked very closely with colleagues in Environmental Health in its design - as we do during all programmes of school kitchen improvement.
“Carmarthenshire County Council is recognised as one of the best in the country for the investment it puts in to our school kitchens, which is considerably more than any other authority in Wales, and we are proud to continue improving school kitchens, school meals and the health of school children in our county.”
Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge, Executive Board Member for education, said: “It is wonderful that the children have embraced this new facility and are enjoying a range of healthy, nutritious school meals.”

Picture caption: Launch of new kitchen facilities at Stebonheath School, Llanelli. Pictured is deputy head Julian Littler, with kitchen staff, school children, and Head of Business and Specialist Services Elin Cullen and director of education Vernon Morgan. Pic Jeff Connell

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