Trafford Council has launched its biggest survey ever on school meals, giving parents, pupils, and school staff the chance to have their say on the food served in schools across the borough.
The consultation, led by Trafford Catering in partnership with Public Health Trafford, aims to gather views from thousands of families, pupils, and school teams about the quality, nutrition, and appeal of school meals.
Trafford Catering provides healthy and affordable meals every day to over 15,000 children across 61 primary schools, six high schools, and two nurseries, employing 364 staff across Trafford and Greater Manchester. The service plays a key role in promoting the health and wellbeing of local children through nutritious, freshly prepared food.
Earlier this year, Trafford Catering joined forces with Public Health Trafford to review and refresh the school menu as part of the borough’s Healthy Trafford agenda. The updated menus focus on more fruit and vegetables, fewer processed foods, and improved recipes and cooking methods to support children’s health and wellbeing.
Now, with the first three months of the new menu completed, the Council wants to hear what pupils, parents, and teachers think.
Three short surveys – one each for pupils, parents/carers, and school staff – are being sent directly to each group. Feedback will be open for two weeks, with results helping Trafford Catering shape future menus and better understand preferences, meal uptake, and barriers to participation.
The survey also comes at a key moment, with the Government announcing plans to expand Free School Meal eligibility, ensuring Trafford is best placed to meet future demand.
Helen Gollins, Director of Public Health for Trafford Council, said:
“Healthy school meals play a vital role in giving children the best start in life. A nutritious lunch helps pupils to concentrate, learn, and thrive throughout the school day, and it supports their long-term health and wellbeing.
“That’s why this survey is so important. We want to understand what families, pupils, and schools think about the meals we provide, so we can continue to improve and ensure every child in Trafford has access to good, healthy food at school.”
While it won’t be possible to accommodate every suggestion, the feedback will provide valuable insight to help Trafford Catering continue delivering healthy, balanced, and appealing meals for young people across the borough.
Parents and pupils can complete the survey online.