School Meals
Details of the new voucher system from the Government running from 20th April 2020
Children from Foundation Stage 2 up to Year 2 are entitled to a free school meal. School meals for Year 3 – Year 6 cost £12.50 per week, £2.50 per day, this is payable on a Monday morning each week or if you prefer you can pay each half term. Envelopes are available on request. You are more than welcome to change from school meals to packed lunches or visa versa we only ask that you give us at least a half terms’ notice.
Every day the children are asked from the menu which meal they would like and are given a corresponding coloured band to wear. The children hand these bands to the cook when they go into dinner. This ensures that each child gets the meal that they want. It is very helpful especially with the younger children if you could take the time to go through the menu with them and help them with their choices.
If you feel your child may be entitled to free school meals please come into the office for a chat or click here to complete the online form on the Stockton Borough Council’s website.
If you decide on your child bringing a packed lunch please look at the policy below
Food and drink in packed lunches
(Information taken from The Children’s Food Trust)
Packed lunches should include:
- At least one portion of fruit and one portion of vegetables every day.
- Meat, fish or other source of non-dairy protein (e.g. lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas, hummus, and falafel) every day
- Oily fish, such as tuna, at least once every three weeks.
- A starchy food such as any type of bread, pasta, rice, couscous, noodles, potatoes or other type of cereals every day.
- Dairy food such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, fromage frais or custard everyday
- Only water, fruit juice, semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, yoghurt or milk drinks and smoothies.
- Cakes and biscuits are allowed but encourage your child to eat these only as part of a balanced meal. (See below about chocolate covered)
- Meat products such as sausage rolls, individual pies, corned meat and sausages / chipolatas should be included only occasionally.
Packed lunches should not include:
- Fizzy drinks
- Snacks such as crisps (baked crisps are acceptable)
- Confectionery such as chocolate or chocolate bars and sweets.
Instead, seeds, vegetables and fruit (with no added salt, sugar or fat). Savoury crackers or breadsticks served with fruit, vegetables or dairy food are also a good choice.
Special diets and allergies
The school also recognises that some pupils may require special diets that do not allow for the standards to be met exactly. In this case parents are urged to be responsible in ensuring that packed lunches are as healthy as possible. For these reasons pupils are also not permitted to swap food items.