Infant and junior schools in Somerset will use the social networkingsite to tell parents about the menu on offer, whether or not theirchildren take school meals, and help them to make an informed choiceabout whether school meals are cost effective.
The scheme has been developed following research by the School FoodTrust that found that young children are often unable to tell theirparents what they had to eat at school, or inadvertently misinformthem.
Emma Heesom, the School Food Trust's campaign manager for Twitter, said,'Children, particularly four- and five-year-olds, often forget what theyhad for dinner at school.
'The Twitter page gives parents the opportunity to find out what foodstheir children will be eating, which is good for children who haveallergies, and the opportunity to ask open-ended questions about theirchild's school meal.'
The scheme is intended to help parents start a discussion with theirchild about what they ate at school and to help educate them on healthyeating. It also aims to dispel misconceptions among parents that schoolmeals are of poor quality.
Parents can sign up for the food 'tweets' by registering on the socialnetworking site.
Weekly school menus and additional information about free school mealsand special events will be available.
The scheme, a collaboration between Somerset County Council and theSchool Food Trust, is one of a series of Trust initiatives to supportlocal authorities in increasing the uptake of school meals.
The trial will run during the autumn term and Somerset County Councilintends to publish details of the results online.
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.twitter.com/SCSSchoolmeals.