SCHOOL meals could soon be getting a £600,000 boost.

Kirklees Cabinet will be asked to approve the self-funded investment in school catering provision until 2016.

But the council’s report shows that the viability of the service relies on academy schools continuing to use the provision for their school meals.

The report says: “The retention of business with academy schools is crucial to the financial success and viability of the catering service and investment will continue to be made in these schools under a more formal contractual arrangement than with maintained schools.”

The full business case is expected to be heard behind closed doors for financial reasons.

Only part of the council’s report is public, and it says that school meals has needed capital investment for a “number of years” to retain it, improve uptake and remain profitable.

The funding will come from delegated schools’ budgets, increased net revenue arising from additional sales and direct contributions from schools’ other funds.

All schools have delegated funding for the provision of catering services but are free to procure school meals from any source or self-manage it.

Kirklees Catering Service operates in 81% of middle and high schools and 99% of primary and special schools.

Schemes which have helped improve take-up include a deli bar, branding, biometric cashless system and new dining furniture.

Kirklees Cabinet will consider the funding at tomorrow’s 4pm meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall.