OVER the past few weeks I have been watching a Channel 4 programme on Wednesday evenings, called "Jamie's School Dinners" which is looking in detail at the food provided in schools.

Jamie Oliver is passionate about the standard and content of the canteen-style lunches offered to our children, and one of his concerns is about the lack of nutritional value the meals offer the children. For some, this is their main meal of the day, which is very worrying.

It was pointed out in the programme that this does not reflect on the dinner ladies, who all do a marvellous job with the meal options they are given. However, one of the cooks commented that we need to provide children as young as 4-5 years old with decent food before they pick up bad eating habits, or start insisting on convenience foods.

As a manager of a private day nursery in Bury, I agree wholeheartedly with this comment. All our children eat a healthy, balanced menu, are given fresh fruit, vegetables, meat or fish daily and, on the whole, the children are not fussy eaters. They all enjoy a wide variety of foods. We also have a budget to stick to and can, and do, provide good, fresh ingredients at similar cost to those quoted in the programme.

As a parent of children who no longer go to school, I do not know what children in Bury schools are offered, but I hope they receive better meals than those shown in the programme! I wish Jamie Oliver well and hope his campaign is successful.

DEBORAH TURNER,

private day nursery manager.