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LACA makes National School Meals Week resources available

24 Sep 2025
LACA, the school food people, has made the National School Meals Week (10-14th November) resources available for school chefs and education caterers to download and use.

A popular theme event in many school caterers calendars, LACA works hard to provide a selection of activities for caterers, pupils and schools to engage with. Download NSMW resources here.

Nigel Argyle, director at Elygra, said: “This year’s overarching theme is ‘School lunch skills for life’. For those pupils who regularly enjoy a hot, nutritious school lunch, the experience is about a lot more than just the meal on the plate.

“School caterers across the country aim to teach important life skills to students and give them tools and knowledge to grow up strong, healthy and have the energy to learn and thrive in the classroom. As part of the NSMW 2025 promotions, LACA will showcase just some of the many benefits of enjoying a school lunch as we launch the ‘School lunch skills for life’ Initiative.”

Each day of the week, LACA will actively promote one of the many benefits each day as set out below:

  • Monday – Cooking together: LACA will work to encourage pupils to get involved in cooking, asking caterers to share recipes for pupils (and parents) to download and try at home. School caterers can show the ingredients they have used to make certain dishes and run taster days in school.
  • Tuesday – Nutrition: Educating children as to what a balanced meal looks like, giving them skills to make the right choice at mealtimes and snack time. Educational activity sheet that teachers can use in class and children will enjoy completing will be available.
  • Wednesday – Community: LACA Will help inform pupils about where their school food comes from. No NSMW can go past without including such important messages. School caterers use a lot of local seasonal produce and support local businesses and employment. Wednesday will feature the traditional Roast Lunch.
  • Thursday – Environmental: School caterers do a lot to reduce their food miles and reduce waste in general. LACA will encourage pupils to take an interest in this area.
  • Friday – Social: The importance of eating together, learning how to use a knife and fork, being sociable and kind whilst enjoying school food. A day to invite VIPs and showcase the best of school meals.

LACA are currently also talking to school chef Andre Alto, who works at Kings Norton Girls School in Birmingham, about how LACA can showcase his winning dishes from this year’s Grab 'N' Go competition.

And LACA chair Michael Hales will be on hand all week updating members about the many things happening, as will 2025 School Chef of the Year Erin Ward from Impact Food Group. Now you know what LACA has planned, what do you plan? Tell us on any of these social media platforms: