The price of hot meals in Dudley schools should be frozen next year, council bosses have recommended.

Dudley Council chiefs have advised headteachers in the borough the cost to parents should remain at £2.30 from September 2018 to July 2019, as it is for this academic year. The meals have increased in price by 10p every year for the last three years. Councillor Angus Lees, cabinet member for children’s services, said:

“We recognise as a council that for many families money is tight. In light of price rises in recent years, we are recommending a price freeze as a goodwill gesture to help with family finances.

“Healthy, hot, nourishing school meals can help children improve their concentration at school, and ultimately fulfil their academic potential. We hope a price freeze will mean more children are able to enjoy a hot, healthy meal at school every day to aid with their learning and development.”

The authority’s catering service has written to headteachers at all council-run primary and secondary schools recommending the price freeze today. It will be up to individual schools whether to accept the recommendation, with headteachers still able to see a price rise on meals if they so wish.