School Dinners

We’re excited to announce that from September the children will be receiving their lunch from a new catering provider and we wanted you to be informed about the changes that are taking place.

Payment for school meals will be taken from your Arbor account. In order for your child to receive a meal, there must be sufficient credit available in your account.

Children in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 receive a free meal under the Government’s Universal Infant Free School Meals programme.

From Year 3 onwards, if your child is not entitled to free school meals, you will need to ensure there are sufficient funds in your account for them to receive a school meal.

Children will order their food on the day. PS Catering is keen for children to see the food available at the counter before making their final choice.

However, at the start of each day, we will ask them to select one of the following three options:

·         Main course

·         Vegetarian option

·         Pasta or jacket potato

Free School Meals
The are several circumstances in which your child is entitled to free school meals, including if you are in receipt of Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance, (Income Based). If you are receiving Child Tax Credit alone, (i.e. not with Working Tax Credit), and you may still be entitled to free school meals. An application form is available from the school office. If you are entitled to free school meals, please apply, even if your child does not want school dinners. It  benefits the school for children to be registered for free school meals, so we seek your co-operation with filling in this form if applicable. For more information, including criteria for entitlement, please follow the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

Since September 2014 every child in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 is entitled to a school meal. However, it is important that you still apply for free school meals if you are entitled; this secures valuable funding for our school which we can use to support your child in a variety of ways.

Snacks and Drinks
Packed lunches
The school is committed to informing pupils and parents/carers about approaches to the preparation of a packed lunch that is balanced and healthy. In order to keep teeth healthy, sweets are not allowed in school but one chocolate-coated biscuit as part of a packed lunch is permitted.
The school has identified areas for the eating of packed lunches where pupils can have easy access to drinking water and facilities to dispose of and recycle waste.

Snacks
Children are welcome to bring a healthy snack to enjoy during morning break if they wish. To support our focus on healthy eating, we recommend snacks such as a piece of fruit or a cereal bar. Children in Reception and Key Stage One also receive a free piece of fruit each day as part of the government-sponsored Healthy Eating Scheme.

Drinks
The school recognises the contribution that the consumption of sufficient water makes to learning, positive behaviour and health. The school has shown a commitment to meeting legal requirements to make clean, palatable water available to all pupils and staff throughout the school day. Parents/carers are encouraged to provide an appropriate container, (transparent plastic bottle), for drinking water and to ensure that these containers are kept clean. The children can keep these bottles in classrooms so that they are readily available.