SCHOOLS are being urged to compete with local takeaways by offering special meal deals in a bid to encourage more pupils to eat healthy lunches.
Ministers have announced that schools will be able to offer price promotions in the hope that more youngsters will try school dinners.
At present, schools have to charge the same price for the same item for every pupil.
Concerns have been raised that takeaways located close to schools target pupils by offering cheap deals.
The Department for Education said it was lifting restrictions allowing schools to offer discounts and deals to pupils who are unlikely to eat school lunches, or year groups where take-up of dinners usually tails off. Ministers said it could mean schools offering cut-price meals to a different year group each day, or £1 meal deals for new students.
