School Lunches, food & cooking

School Lunches

Our cook, Mrs Hempshell, provides a really tasty lunch. She takes the time to find out the children’s individual likes and dislikes so that she knows they will be receiving a meal that they are going to eat and enjoy! We offer a healthy, nutritionally-balanced menu with food cooked fresh on the premises every day. Children can choose from our menu or bring their own packed lunch.

Our school meals follow a healthy-eating policy and are produced in our school kitchen from only:

• Fresh meat and poultry sourced from the region;
• Fruit and vegetables sourced regionally where possible using local suppliers;
• Products free from additives associated with health problems in young children;
• Fats free from hydrogenated oils;
• With menus that are nutritionally balanced.

We have a three week menu cycle, allowing children to become familiar with the food served which is changed every term to reflect the seasons. In addition to this menu, children have the option of either a jacket potato with a choice of filling or a sandwich option.

We also have themed days throughout the year such as Mother’s Day, Halloween, Bonfire Night and of course a lovely Christmas Dinner!

Children eating packed lunches eat on the same tables as those having a school lunch. All tables have table cloths on and we have serviettes on special days. 

We strongly advise parents to provide a healthy, balanced packed lunch and do not accept chocolate bars or sweets to be included. A yoghurt/​biscuit/​cake is preferable to reflect the school lunch menu. 

Have a look at a sample menu below.

Cost

Please speak to Mrs McCrory in the office if you have any questions.

All children up in Foundation Stage/​Year 1 and Year 2 have their meals paid for. 

The cost of a school lunch for children in Y3, 4, 5 & 6 is £2.60 per day. If your child is entitled to Pupil Premium, their meals are free. Please have a chat with us about this if you are uncertain if your child is eligible. Lunch money is due EVERY MONDAY MORNING and needs to be in a sealed envelope with your child’s name on and the amount enclosed. You can also pay half a term or a term in advance. If your child is ill, their lunch money is carried forward. 

Please see the Charging & Remissions Policy below for terms and conditions. 

Cooking in school

All children are taught to cook through dedicated Design & Technology lessons (DT) as well as through small groups working weekly with Mrs Colley. (See the DT part of the Curriculum) She teaches food preparation skills including cutting as well as how to maintain good hygiene. There is plenty of opportunity for tasting new flavours too! All the children really love seeing the food they have prepared eaten for lunch the next day.

Snacks

All children have access to fruit each day as well as water. Each child has their own water bottle with their name on in their classroom which they can access at any time apart from when a teacher is in the middle of teaching. Water bottles are washed in the dishwasher and refilled daily.

We strongly encourage all children to bring a healthy snack into school for playtime as it is often a long time since breakfast! 

If your child has not had breakfast for whatever reason, please let a member of staff know so that we can organise them some. Children cannot learn if they are hungry.

In EYFS/​Y1 on Thursday’s, children can make their own toasted snacks. They are taught how to do this safely!

On Fridays, Class 1 & 2 children have tuck shop at morning break. This can be healthy snacks such as flapjack/​dried fruit/​fresh fruit etc. At the moment, children are enjoying ​‘Toastie Friday’, where they can have crumpets/​toast/​brioche and a smoothie. The cost of this is 50p per week.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL CHILDREN ARE FULLY INCLUDED EVEN IF THEY HAVE ALLERGIES OR DIABETES. WE FIND OUT WHAT YUR CHILD CAN EAT OR DRINK AND BUY IT SPECIALLY. NO CHILD EVER MISSES OUT ON ANY OCCASSION.