THE cost of school meals will increase by 10p from April this year.

Hampshire County Council has agreed the first increase in six years, to meet the rising costs of providing school meals.

It will take the cost per meal to £2.10, which the council says "continues to represent good value for money for a two course, freshly cooked school meal".

Executive lead member for children’s services, Councillor Keith Mans, said: “A healthy lunch at school contributes significantly to a child’s wellbeing and their capacity to learn through to the end of the school day. We’re very proud of the high standard of school meals that our catering service (HC3S) provides, using locally sourced produce.”

He added: “I am keen that school meals remain affordable but we must balance this against the rising costs to provide those meals. In my view, the proposal to put the per meal price up by small increments will avoid sudden, dramatic price hikes and ensure the increases are manageable.”

More than 70,000 healthy school meals are served in Hampshire’s primary and secondary schools across the county everyday.

All HC3S school meals meet the Department for Education’s rules for healthy school dinners and HC3S has worked with schools, pupils and parents for over 20 years, to create menus that are varied and follow the guiding principles of healthy eating.

Menus also adhere to the Hyperactive Children's Support Group's recommendations to remove over 70 additives and colourings that could affect children's behaviour.

In addition to the rising costs of ingredients, an increase to the ‘Living Wage’ is anticipated in the financial year 2017/18 which will also have a significant impact on staffing costs, the council said.

The decision to increase the school meal price was taken at the Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services Decision Day on January 20.