School Lunches — Primary School · Moxie89
Research · School Community
Primary School

School lunches —
what parents told us

Survey results · June 2026

49
Families responded
67
Children covered
97%
Use school lunches
54%
Often come home hungry
16
Reception
16
Year 1
13
Year 2
1
Year 3
0
Year 4
21
Year 5

Year 6 not shown — 1 child represented. Year 4 has no respondents yet.

54%

say their child often or almost always comes home hungry

44%

reported concerns about children being served food they didn't want

Looks unappealing
52%
No plain option
29%
Texture problems
27%
Too spicy
25%
Undercooked
18%
Plain option always available Friday menu preview Regular feedback survey Components separate on plate Taster portions Open feedback channel SEN-aware serving staff
97% use and value school lunches Taster sessions well received Many parents broadly positive
"I think we are lucky to get free school meals in London. They are doing well with the money they have."
"The taster day was lovely. We continue to be perfectly happy with the lunch situation at the school."
1
Plain option — no negotiationEnsure plain pasta or rice is always available without children having to ask repeatedly
2
Separate components by defaultServe food deconstructed where possible — children can mix themselves
3
Address cooking consistencyMultiple reports of undercooked pasta and rice — a straightforward quality fix
4
SEN staff awarenessServing staff to be briefed on needs including ARFID and sensory sensitivities
5
Friday menu previewShare the following week's menu every Friday so families can prepare children
6
Clear feedback channelA visible, publicised way for parents to raise concerns — currently 13% don't know how
Haven't filled in the survey yet?

More responses help us build a stronger picture — especially from Year 3, 4, and 6 families.
Contact: kimberly@moxie89.com