A CANTEEN in a Newport primary school was asked to “urgently improve” this year after receiving a ‘zero’ rating in its food hygiene inspection.

Chartwells, at Lliswerry Primary School, in Nash Road, was inspected on Wednesday, May 24, of this year, and was asked to improve in all inspection categories.

This included hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities / building and management of food safety with inspectors recommending “major improvements necessary”.

Food safety management refers to “systems or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety” with the food safety officer “having confidence that standards will be maintained in future”.

Immediately after the inspection result, Newport City Council (NCC) worked with partners to resolve the situation providing alternative food provision while works were carried out in the kitchen. Full service was resumed shortly after.

However, the Food Standards Agency report has caused debate on social media including on the Lliswerry Ward Matters Facebook page.

Anne-marie Dixon, posting on Facebook, said: “This is appalling, how can this even happen at a school.”

Andrea Kinnear, also posting on Facebook, described the rating as “disgusting”.

“If it was a restaurant they would shut it down until improvements were made,” she said.

Newport City Council have confirmed that meal service has now resumed at the school following a change of meal provision and will not cause any disruption in the Autumn term.

Cllr Allan Morris, of Lliswerry ward, added: “I’m confident that the school and its governing body will do everything in their power to ensure that high standards are met.”

A Newport City Council spokeswoman added: “The outcome of the inspection has been taken very seriously and Lliswerry Primary, catering providers Chartwells, property services company Newport Norse and Newport City Council, have been working to address the issues highlighted.

“We are confident that considerable improvements have been made and a re- inspection has been requested.”

Visit ratings.food.gov.uk/business/en-GB/48733