PROBLEMS with the delivery of free school meals in Dorset mean some schools risk falling short of the government’s target.

A national census on the uptake of the government’s free school meals initiative will be held this month and because of the problems with supplier Chartwells, many Dorset schools will not meet the 87 per cent take up rate on which funding was allocated.

A low take-up rate could potentially mean the Department for Education reduces future free school meal funding to local schools.

But councils say they are working closely with the DfE to explain the problems and are hopeful funding will not be affected. They said the DfE were fully aware of the situation with Chartwells, which left many schools without the meals they had ordered.

Many schools are now receiving a packed lunch service, but some families have provided their own lunches.

Sarah Tough, director for children's services at Dorset County Council, said there would be a second census in January.

“We are working closely with the DfE to ensure the average of the two censuses reflects the likely uptake of meals throughout the year as this is the number which will be used to provide funding for the meals as we do each year,” she said.