What does participation involve for pupils and parents?
During May 2009, selected pupils brought home an opt-out letter for parents/guardians. This letter explained that we would like the school to tell us whether the pupil takes school meals and provides parents with the opportunity to say that they do not wish schools to share this information.
If parents allowed the school to share this information with NatCen, it is treated in strictest confidence. However, participation is entirely voluntary.
Longitudinal survey
In June 2009, some pupils were selected to take part in a longitudinal survey and parents/guardians were contacted separately about this by letter. Again, parents/guardians are given the opportunity to say if they do not wish to take part.
Participation involves an interview in the home about the child’s meals at home and at school, the child’s behaviour and concentration and family characteristics. The child’s height and weight measurements will also be taken and can be made available to you if you wish.
The interviews last approximately 1 hour and took place during June or July 2009. Parents will be asked to take part in a follow-up interview in Summer 2011.
The study is confidential but not compulsory
The study is confidential. Any information given to us will be treated in the strictest confidence. Results are only ever presented as statistics, not in a form which can reveal the identity of schools or individuals. This information will only be known to the National Centre for Social Research and the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
The study is not compulsory
In all our studies we rely on voluntary co-operation. The success of the study depends on the goodwill and co-operation of those asked to take part. The more people who do take part, the more useful the results will be.
We greatly appreciate the participation of schools, parents and pupils. However, you are free to withdraw from the study at any time.
What does participation involve for schools?
Schools have been asked to monitor the take-up of school meals for selected pupils. It's important we collect this information in Summer 2009 before the pilots are introduced and again in 2010 and 2011 so that we can detect the impact of the pilots.
Parents were given the opportunity to say if they do not wish the school to share this information. We gave schools opt-out letters to give to named pupils in May 2009.
Schools were asked to indicate next to a list of pupil names whether, in a given week, they took school meals or whether the parents have opted-out.
When this list has been returned to NatCen, a sample of pupils was drawn for the longitudinal survey and parents were contacted about this directly by letter.
In Summer 2009, we conducted short telephone interviews with catering managers. These will be repeated in 2010 and 2011. In Autumn 2009, a small number of schools will be invited to take part in case studies as part of the qualitative research programme.
We have aimed to keep the administrative burden on schools to a minimum and do greatly appreciate the participation of schools.
Where to go if you would like more information
Contact us by email
schoolmealsinfo@natcen.ac.uk
Contact us by telephone at this freephone number
0800 652 4574
Contact us by post
The Free School Meals Research Team
National Centre for Social Research
Kings House
101-135 Kings Road
Brentwood
Essex
CM14 4LX