A WEST Wales council’s catering team has been rewarded for its work including rolling out free school meals.

Neath Port Talbot Council’s access managed services (AMS) catering team won the Welsh Government’s Good in Schools Award at the LACA Wales ceremony.

The team was given the award for its overall excellence in work and for rolling out free school meals to all primary school children a year ahead of schedule.

Neath Port Talbot’s roll out of the free school meals began with reception children in September 2022, with Years 1 and 2 following that November.  It was rolled out to Years 3 and 4 in April this year which was followed by Years 5 and 6, a year ahead of the Welsh Government’s deadline of every primary school pupils in Wales having free school meals by 2024.

The team were also shortlisted for the Catering Management Team of the Year, The Innovation Award, and The Community Impact Award.

Cllr Nia Jenkins, the council’s cabinet member for education and early years, said: “Working in very challenging financial circumstances our catering team works hard to keep thousands of meals coming on a daily basis and they excelled themselves by rolling out free school meals in Neath Port Talbot to all primary schools well ahead of schedule.

“I am incredibly proud of the team and I’m sure this recognition will give everyone a boost after a couple of extremely difficult years.”

The LACA awards aim to recognise the great work going on in Wales in the school catering sector. LACA originally stood for Local Authority Caterers Association but it now represent the public and private sector caterers and is now known as LACA – the School Food People.

The awards were presented at the Vale Resort on October 26, 2023.