LACA joins forces with ParentPay to launch new parents survey to mark National School Meals Week 2011

PRESS LAUNCH DATE: Monday 7 November 2011
Event: Launch of new LACA/ParentPay Survey/National School Meals Week 2011
Venue: St Clement Danes C of E Primary School, Drury Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5SU
Time: 8.30 – 9.00 a.m.
Contact: Hazel Fancy
Mobile: 07950 007169


The results of a new Survey of over 10,000 parents on the subject of school catering and school food, probably the largest ever conducted, will be published on Monday 7 November, the first day of LACA’s National School Meals Week 2011 (7-11 November). The Week is organised annually by LACA (formerly the Local Authority Caterers Association). The Survey was jointly conducted by LACA, the nation’s largest network of school meal providers and ParentPay, providers of school online payment and meal administration systems.

Amongst the findings, parents’ attitudes are showing a marked reversal of past trends perhaps indicating that some of the Government’s public health and nutritional guidance over the last few years may well be paying off. The Survey shows that the majority of parents appear to have become more nutritionally savvy and not only eager to keep a watchful eye but also to take an active interest in or, even some control over, what their children are eating both in and out of school.

The Survey findings turn popular perceptions on their head about parents’ attitudes and concerns about the diets and lifestyles of children and young people as well as their views on school meals. All of the findings will be revealed at a National Media Launch on Monday 7 November at a Primary School in Central London.

The event will be hosted by:

• Sharon Hodgson MP, Shadow Minister for Children & Families/ Parliamentary working group on school food¹ 
• Lynda Mitchell, National Chair, LACA 
• Clint Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, ParentPay 
• Arnold Fewell, Author of the LACA/ParentPay Research Report 

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Contact: Hazel Fancy, LACA Press Office.
T: 01932 253184
M: 07950 007169

3 November 2011 

Note to Editors:

¹   Sharon Hodgson has been instrumental in developing a Parliamentary working group on school food, involving cross party MPs and industry stakeholders.

 •  The press release on the findings of the LACA/ParentPay Survey 2011 (embargoed for publication/broadcast until 00.01 on Mon 7 November) will be available p.m. on 3 November.