The annual survey of take up of school meals in England is based on data from local authorities as part of the School Food Trust and Local Authority Caterers Association annual survey. It provides information on the take up of school lunches at national, regional and local level. The coverage includes the following two categories: primary schools and special schools; and secondary schools, academies and city technology colleges.

• Methodology: Longitudinal panel design with 3 stages of data collection over a 9-12 month period.
• Start date: 2006
• Frequency of survey: Annual
• Most recent return: July 2011, headline data for the 11/12 school year will be available in July 2012
• Commissioned by: The Department of Education
• Coverage: All 152 local authorities in England
• Caveats: The findings do not always include the characteristics of schools who arrange catering services from providers who do not operate within the local authority structure (e.g. private catering companies) or schools who provide their own in-school catering services.
• Link to associated papers: http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/school-cooks-caterers/reports/statistical-release-take-up-of-school-lunches-in-england-2010-2011