A HEREFORD primary school is serving up something different after rising to the challenge of providing universal free school meals for infants.

The city's Riverside Primary School opened its new kitchen last month, in order to provide freshly cooked meals for its pupils.

It came after the government introduced new legislation to offer a free school lunch to all pupils in reception, year one and year two from September 2014.

Meals were formerly supplied by Hereford Academy but now pupils enjoy a wide variety of meals with daily vegetarian, meat and jacket potato options as well as access to fresh fruit, salads and homemade bread – all prepared on site.

Sheila Taylor, business manager at the school, is behind the new service.

She said: "We are one of the largest schools in Hereford and before the initiative came in we had meals transferred from Hereford Academy but we have now built our own kitchen and have our own catering staff team.

"The new kitchen opened in January and I think it was just a case of looking at how we could deliver a more healthy service with a better quality of food for the children of Riverside.

"The initiative which is where it all started from has had an impact for us. "We're now serving between 280 to 300 hot meals daily.

"The actual variety of the menu is greatly improved and we have our set menu and children also have access to a salad bar so they can get a salad with their meal and there's also fresh fruit and homemade bread. Children also get access to fresh water daily. "

Mrs Taylor said children are trying more vegetables and healthier foods than ever before and staff work with parents to encourage them to do this at home too.

She said the new kitchen, which has been awarded the top food hygiene rating, has enhanced the school 100% and added that Riverside is one of only three primary schools in the county to cook on site.