22 January 2008
A group of eleven catering employees from schools across the Caerphilly county borough have become the first to gain cookery qualifications linked to a new partnership initiative involving the council and The College, Ystrad Mynach.
Eight senior catering staff, employed by Caerphilly county borough council, have qualified for an NVQ level 2 award in Professional Cookery and 3 trainers have received for an A1 Training Assessors Award.
The staff were involved in a pilot scheme, which is now being rolled out to all School Cooks in the area with the help of funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.
The training will allow staff to be well prepared for the new school meals legislation called 'Appetite for Life' which was launched by the Welsh Assembly Government in November. 'Appetite for Life' sets out the strategic direction and actions required to improve nutritional standards of food and drink in schools in Wales.
The council's catering service has been leading the way in Wales in recent years to provide more schoolchildren with healthy, nutritious meals. The authority has been developing improved menus and innovative ways of encouraging more children to eat healthy food long before the 'Jamie Oliver campaign' brought the issue into the public spotlight.
Pupils now tuck into a range of nutritionally-balanced meals catering for all tastes.
There are also exciting initiatives taking place such as Breakfast Clubs giving pupils the best start to a school day. The council, working with the Welsh Assembly Government, has introduced a free breakfast initiative in many primary schools throughout the area.
For further information about school meals visit: www.myschoollunch.co.uk/caerphilly
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