A headteacher claims children's education could suffer because of budget cuts in school meals.
Angela Philips, of All Saints' Primary School, Dovercourt, said she may be forced to use money meant for learning to fund the dinners.
Essex County Council has planned to withdraw its contract for meals, meaning schools will have to pick up the bill from next year.
It will leave All Saints' Primary with a shortfall of £5,000.
Mrs Philips said: "From our point of view, this could have a major impact, because if we are going to carry on providing meals we will have to pick up the deficit from other parts of our budget."
There are two kitchen workers currently contracted to the school, who would have to go under the LEA's proposals.
A special meeting about the future of school meals is being held in Harwich on Friday.
Published Wednesday January 21, 2004
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