New ‘crispy’ schools meals get thumbs up from pupils at George White Junior school in Norwich

Parents have joined their children to eat school dinners together to mark the opening a refurbished dining room, and the introduction of new caterers.

Children at George White Junior School, in Silver Road, Norwich, gave a big thumbs up to the new meals on offer, and the increased choice they have, since Ipswich-based social interest company Eats took over the contract in March.

Gabriel Lincoln-Barnes, eight, said macaroni cheese was his favourite dish because of the massive piece of garlic bread that goes with it.

Anna Dyble, nine, said she would give the new caterers four-and-a-half-stars out of five, and added: 'The meals have got a lot better. They have cooked it more, so it's a lot more crispy. It's well cooked.'

The dining room has been brightened up, with walls painted bright yellow, and a mural showing a range of fruit and vegetables by Louisa Young, who takes a weekly after-school art class for pupils.

She said the children had been very positive, and there were lots of faces at the window, and enthusiastic sounds, as she painted it.

Headteacher June Sewell said: 'For me, it was about being sociable in a nice space, with children having choice.'