View report page

SCHOOL CANTEENS AND THE PROVISION OF MEALS
AND MILK.
There is little doubt that the maintenance of the nutrition of
the average school child at a satisfactory level, is due in very large
fact to the organised provision of meals and milk at school.
Throughout the whole year Canteens were in operation at White
Hart Lane, Noel Park, Alexandra, Lordship Lane and Rhodes
Avenue Schools, and from August onwards there was also a Canteen
at Bounds Green School. The average number of children taking
advantage of the school meals was 1,475, and the total number
of meals provided during the year was 267,979. The percentage of
the elementary school children having school meals was just over 30,
while the percentage taking advantage of school milk was as high
as 83. The latter figure is very satisfactory, but the former not so
satisfactory, and I should like to see a much higher proportion of the
children taking advantage of the school dinners. In addition to the
very large number of children receiving milk in school for payment,
171 children whose parents were not in a position to pay for milk
were provided with 52,334 bottles of milk free of cost.
It is obvious that the provision of school meals and of milk in
school to such large numbers of children involves a great deal of
organisation and hard work, much of which has to be borne by the
teaching staff of the schools. The service rendered in this respect
is in my opinion of the highest importance for the well-being of the
children, and the teachers are in the best position to sec the
beneficial results of this war-time service in which they take so
active a part.