A PETITION has been launched to save school cooks who are 'more to children than distributors of food'.

The Leader previously reported that NEWydd Catering Company had been blasted after serving pupils 'small portions' of 'frozen food'.

Ysgol Bro Carmel, in Holywell, sent a letter to parents saying they were unhappy about this as children having a 'freshly prepared meal at midday, which is nutritionally balanced is very important'.

As a result, a petition has been launched by concerned parents in a bid to save school cooks.

The petition reads: "NEWydd Catering’s new “Modernisation Programme” proposes to remove school cooks from 23 schools in Flintshire and replace the in house fresh onsite cooking that our children love so much with a sort of ‘meals on wheels’ service.

"They have tried to disguise these changes behind ‘covid-related logistical issues’ meanwhile working towards making our school cooks redundant! Our school cooks are more to our children than the distributors of food they wish to replace them with.

"They are central figures in the school and our children’s friends. Someone who gets to know the children and talks to them about what they like and don’t like, values their opinions and input, someone who can give a bit extra if they see a child is particularly hungry or in need, someone who can adapt recipes based on what the children in her school like while sneaking in healthy bits in a way they find delicious.

"School cooks are like mother figures in schools who give children a glimpse of the world of cooking and baking, who show children how to create, make and provide for groups of people. Someone to talk to about food, tastes, portioning, recipes, healthy eating, preferences.

"If the children have allergies or intolerances they know about it and are there to talk to the children and parents about solutions and put their minds at ease.

"By removing School Cooks this company are not just reducing overheads but undermining our children’s healthy food educational experience and a homely central part of their school life. Save Our School Cooks."

Hundreds of parents have already signed the petition at https://www.change.org/p/newydd-catering-cleaning-ltd-save-our-school-cooks?

Parents have reacted with outrage at their children being ‘charged for junk frozen food’.

One parent described the situation as a ‘disgrace’ and many pupils had taken to taking their own packed lunches in due to the ‘poor quality’.

Another parent added: “As parents we don't want our child to have a smaller portion, frozen or warmed up meal for their lunch especially when the weather changes."

Steve Jones, managing director of NEWydd Catering and Cleaning said the temporary menus are being reviewed.

He added: “There are two very separate issues currently being addressed by the School Meal service, these being the current Interim Menu and the NEWydd Modernisation Programme.

“In common with many school catering providers across Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom we are currently having to offer a reduced menu for an interim period due to Covid-19 restrictions. We do recognise that these interim arrangements are not ideal as they do not allow us to offer our usual range of healthy and varied meals. However, the current temporary menus are being reviewed and we will be offering a revised temporary menu, with a wider range of meal options, to all Primary Schools from Monday, 28 September.

“As part of longer-term plans to modernise our business and separate to the need to provide a temporary menu during Covid-19 restrictions, we are looking to change the way we deliver services in some schools. These changes are needed to ensure that when we can return to providing our normal menu we are in a position to provide the consistent, high quality, nutritionally balanced standard we pride ourselves on delivering. These changes will not result in school kitchens closing and our meals will continue to be served to pupils by members of the NEWydd workforce based in school kitchens. We will be inviting representatives of schools affected by these changes to a Webinar next week to discuss our plans in more detail and ensure our proposals are clearly explained and understood.”