School Meals
School Meals
We are pleased to employ our own fantastic Catering Team to run our school meals provision. This means that we are running our own catering service, without the restrictions imposed by an external company. The service runs all through term time providing schools meals for up to 300 children from Nursery to Year 6 every day. The Catering Team are an integral part of our school community and get involved with Fun Days and special events such as our summer fair. We are extremely proud of our school meals which are very popular with our children and staff. Miss Jeffrey, Catering Manager, oversees the provision.
Why choose a school meal for your child?
We use the highest quality products and use highly trained teams to prepare and cook fresh dishes daily. We ensure the menu is varied and meets nutritional standards. Food is prepared on the premises and we offer a home cooked meal, including a vegetarian option each day. To start each week, we have 'meat free Mondays'. The menu is designed to encourage a balanced diet and children are encouraged to make healthy choices and try new things. Many of our desserts even include hidden fruit and veggies!
Meals are eaten in the downstairs hall of the main school building for children in Year 2 to Year 6 and the EY hall for children in Reception to Year 1. Nursery children who access additional hours in the KEEP are given access to the same main meal as children in the main school and are given their lunch in the KEEP or Out of School Club areas.
Quick Links
The menu will start at week 1 following each school holiday starting w/c Monday 24th November 2025.
School Gateway app information
For school meals queries, contact the office where a member of staff will be happy to help.
School Meal Payments
Reception to Year 2:
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to Universal Free School Meals which means that all children in these year groups receive free school lunches daily.
Nursery / KEEP and Year 3 to Year 6:
Any meals taken in the KEEP and Years 3 to 6 will be fully chargeable, except where a parent has successfully applied for Free School Meals (see below). The school meal price is £2.60 per day (£13.00 per week).
All meals must be paid for in advance using the School Gateway app. Just go to the 'Payments' section to top up your child's account. Each time your child takes a meal, you will then be debited and be able to see your balance in 'Dinners' section.
We operate a no debt policy - if your child does not have money on their account, we will not be able to provide a school meal. For full terms of payment, see our Charging and Remissions Policy.
Allergens and Intolerances
If your child has a food allergy or intolerance, you must inform school. It is the responsibility of the parent / carer to inform us of any such dietary requirements.
If your child has any dietary requirements and would like to take up school meals, please contact the school office in the first instance. You will then be asked to complete a form and provide medical evidence to support your child's dietary requirement. Our Catering Manager will then seek to create a special diet menu for your child and this will be shared with you.
Please note: until a special diet menu has been created, you will need to provide a packed lunch for your child.
Packed Lunches
Children can bring their own packed lunch as an alternative to school meals. Packed lunches are eaten in the halls alongside children having school dinners, or outside in the yard during warm weather. Food should be brought into school in names plastic lunch boxes. For safety reasons, we do not permit glass containers or hot liquids in flasks. Packed lunches cannot contain nuts or nut containing products (e.g. peanut butter, Nutella, breakfast bars etc) as several children in school have severe nut allergies. As part of our Healthy Eating Campaign, we ask parents not to include sweets / chocolate bars in packed lunches and instead we encourage children to bring a lunch that supports a healthy, balanced diet.
Packed Lunches
Children can bring their own packed lunch as an alternative to school meals. Packed lunches are eaten in the halls alongside children having school dinners, or outside in the yard during warm weather. Food should be brought into school in names plastic lunch boxes. For safety reasons, we do not permit glass containers or hot liquids in flasks. Packed lunches cannot contain nuts or nut containing products (e.g. peanut butter, Nutella, breakfast bars etc) as several children in school have severe nut allergies. As part of our Healthy Eating Campaign, we ask parents not to include sweets / chocolate bars in packed lunches and instead we encourage children to bring a lunch that supports a healthy, balanced diet.
Healthy Snacks
You may wish to provide your child with a snack for morning break. We encourage you to offer a healthy snack as part of a balanced diet; sweets and chocolate bars are not suitable. All snacks brought into school must be nut free as some children have severe allergies.
Fresh fruit is provided daily for children in Nursery to Year 2 free of charge. An additional snack is also provided for children in the KEEP. We ask for a small voluntary contribution from parents / carers towards the cost of KEEP snacks.
Milk is provided free of charge for children under 5. Parents / carers of children over 5 may purchase milk from our provider, Cool Milk.
We ask that all children bring a water bottle to school each day.
Free School Meals
Why should I Apply?
If you are eligible, your child will receive nutritious and healthy schools meals free of charge. Your child will also be entitled to free school milk each day. What’s more, school will be able to claim additional funding from the government for each child in receipt of free schools meals.
Even if you are entitled to Universal Free School Meals (children in Reception to Year 2) and you think you may be entitled to free school meals by meeting one of the criteria below, please apply as this will allow school to claim additional funding.
Funding received is used by school to offer pupils invaluable support and to fund resources and activities. For more information on how funding is used, please click here.
Am I Eligible?
You are eligible for free school meals if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Income support
- Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Pension Credit Guarantee
- Child Tax Credit without Working Tax Credit and an annual taxable income below £16,190 (as assessed by HM Revenue and Customs)
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit and an annual taxable income below £16,190.
How do I Apply?
If you think you meet any of the criteria, you can apply by completing this online form.
You can also make an application quickly and easily over the telephone by calling (0191) 643 2288.
Thank you for your support and for helping to make sure the school receives as much funding as possible to give every pupil the support and education they deserve.
