What do you need to know about school meals?

Your child may choose to have a cooked school dinner, a school-packed lunch, or you may provide your child with a packed lunch from home or a mixture of these options.

All children in Tigers, Leopards, Panthers, Meerkats, Elephants, Rhinos, Polar Bears, Penguins and Arctic Foxes classes are entitled to a free school meal as directed by the Government initiative of 2014.

Hot School Meals and School Packed Lunches

Our school meals are supplied by Lunchtime UK. They believe in using fresh produce which is locally sourced and, as a result, we know that our children are receiving the very best ingredients in their food.

Our kitchen staff cook a variety of hot meals on site, with a packed lunch option (ordered in advance on the morning required). Menus are planned to incorporate healthy eating objectives, including increasing fibre, and reducing salt, fat and sugar. There is a choice of dessert, including fresh fruit and cheese and crackers. Please click on the link to view the latest menus  and to see what is on offer this term. Further information about our provider is available here.

Packed Lunches

Your child may choose to have a packed lunch. We ask that you provide them with a balanced meal that includes some of their five-a-day fruit or vegetables. We encourage children to eat their packed lunches in an appropriate order – saving sweet items until last. Please do not give children sweets or large chocolate bars in their lunch boxes.

Payments

Children in Foundation Stage and Key Stage One are entitled to a Free School Meal should they wish to take it up. For all other children in school, lunches are currently charged at £2.55 per day.

Payments for school meals are made via Arbor: Log in to your School | Arbor

Free School Meals

Although all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 students can receive free school meals from September 2014, schools can only receive Pupil Premium for children from families on a lower income, and only if you tell them that you are eligible.

• You can save £400 per child if you currently pay for school dinners for older children
• None of the other children can tell who gets free school meals
• School meals are healthy
• Your child doesn’t have to eat school dinners every day, the school will still get the funding as long as you apply

So please call us if you are in receipt of the following benefits, whatever year your child is in:

•  Income Support
•  Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
•  Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
•  Support under part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999
•  Child Tax Credit, but not Working Tax Credit, if your annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue and Customs) does not exceed £16,190
•  Guarantee element of state pension credit

Please note if you are entitled to Working Tax Credits during the four-week period after your employment ends, or you start working less than 16 hours a week, your children will be eligible for free school meals.

 Apply for free school meals here.