A Keighley special school has showcased its trailblazing approach to school dinners for disabled youngsters.

Branshaw School held an open day to promote changes it has made.

It has worked for three years to devise a system tailored to the individual needs of each student.

Head Jill Burghardt said all aspects of the school dinners system were examined from a child’s point of view.

This ranged from the types of food served to the colour of furniture and health and safety issues.

Mrs Burghardt said: “It was about making lunchtime tasty, a lovely experience.

“Lunchtime is one of the most motivating times of a day.

“Two years ago we had lots of waste, now we have very little waste.”

The new choice of meals is designed to appeal to all the senses, while avoiding dangers such as allergies and choking. Each child’s one-to-one assistant finds out what they want each day and ensures food is brought to them.

The colours of tables and chairs have been changed to help students find their way around safely. Mrs Burghardt said the new system had been prepared by a team including herself, a governor, kitchen staff, a dietician and speech and language expert.

The open day showed parents, education chiefs, therapists and staff from other special schools how the system worked in practice.

The hope is the changes may be adopted by other schools, particularly the new special schools currently being built across the district. Staff and students of Branshaw and Braithwaite special schools will eventually move to new schools in Guard House and Utley.