ALL the ingredients are in place to give thousands of primary schoolchildren free school meals this September.

The present 11,500 school meals provided by Sunderland City Council’s School Meals Service is expected to rise to more than 14,000 in the new school year.

The programme will be boosted by the introduction of the Government initiative to provide reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children with free dinners.

The council’s investment in school kitchens has already ensured that all children in the city have access to a hot meal.

Further investment over the summer will provide additional equipment and allow the upgrading of school kitchens and dining facilities to ensure that all schools in the city are able to manage the expected 20 per cent upsurge in demand.

The council will be recruiting more than 50 kitchen workers.

Portfolio Holder for City Services, Councillor James Blackburn said: “There has been major investment in our school kitchen and dining facilities over a number of years.

“This, and the steps we are currently taking to invest in equipment and facilities, recruit more staff and develop new menus, means that we will be more than ready for implementation in September.

“We are ready to cater for the increased demand this September and make sure that all the children and families who take up this new initiative, will be able to realise the health, educational and financial benefits it can bring.”