School Meals
We recognise the vital part that a healthy diet plays in a child’s wellbeing, development and ability to learn and achieve effectively to unlock their potential.
We believe lunchtime is more than just about eating. It expands out students' academic and personal potential. Children sit together at lunch, whether eating school meals or a packed lunch, which encourages social interaction, are encouraged to try new foods and develop their table manners.
You can view our menus below.
School Menus
Cashless Catering
We now use a cashless system in school. This applies to all food purchased/provided from the school meals service including Free School Meals (FSM), breakfast club, break time and lunch time. The new system has allowed us to continue with the development of the school meal service, and provides us with a more efficient, faster and ultimately better quality of service. The new system does however mean that no cash can normally be accepted for school meals at the Till Points.
Why we introduced the system?
We had been concerned for a while about the amount of cash that some children have to carry around with them in school and ways in which we can encourage students who are eligible for FSM to take them. We use a system that incorporates the latest technology, but most importantly reduces the need for students to carry cash throughout the day and allows all students to use the service in the same way. There are also many other benefits of this system which include:
- No need to carry cash thus preventing loss/theft and reduces the risk of bullying
- Anonymity on Free School Meals reducing bullying
- Students learn about important lifestyle control by monitoring their own accounts
- Increased speed of service reducing queuing times
- Increased uptake on Free School Meals
- Facility to pay On-Line
- Automatic alerts to stop students purchasing allergy trigger items
- Reporting facilities help decrease wastage and improve the overall efficiency of the meal service
It is biometric so there will be no need for students to carry a card, as the system will recognise the thumb of your child at the revaluation pay points and at the tills. Alternatively your child will be issued with a PIN number.
Any amount of money can be paid into a student’s account, and any money spent on food & drink will be deducted on a daily basis. You will also be able to see on a daily basis what your child has spent and what they have spent it on.
In the first instance, a daily ‘spend limit’ of £5.00 is programmed into the system for all students not in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM), but this can be increased or decreased for an individual student by making a written request to the school finance office. The system will not allow your child’s account to go overspent and so it will be essential that their account always has enough credit to cover their purchases.
Students eligible for FSM will have their allowance (currently £2.34 per day) added daily by school and no underspend will be carried forward to the next day. If your child is eligible for FSM and you wish to add money to their entitlement, then you can add money to their account as detailed above.
Online payments can be managed via the parent Arbor system.
Trips and Visits
We also use the cashless system for all trips and visits that your child may take part in. Full details of this will be included on the trip or visit letter or information sheet at the relevant time.