A local authority in the north of England is to offer children starting school this September free school dinners.
Gateshead council hopes by giving children joining the reception year of primary school five days worth of free lunches, it will boost the take-up of school meals.
Currently, 45 per cent of children in Gateshead eat school lunches - a figure slightly higher than the national average.
Catherine Donovan, cabinet member for children and young people at the council, said: "Hopefully, by giving children the chance to try out nutritious lunches for free, it will show them, and their parents, how tasty school meals can be and encourage them to choose them in the future."
Up to 1,400 children are expected to take part in the pilot scheme.
Currently, 45 per cent of children in Gateshead eat school lunches - a figure slightly higher than the national average.
Catherine Donovan, cabinet member for children and young people at the council, said: "Hopefully, by giving children the chance to try out nutritious lunches for free, it will show them, and their parents, how tasty school meals can be and encourage them to choose them in the future."
Up to 1,400 children are expected to take part in the pilot scheme.
