September 2020 Information regarding school meals and packed lunches

In April 2020 we stopped using Manchester Fayre to provide our school lunches and instead employ our own staff to do so.

This means we have more choice over the food we provide.

School dinners will be provided for those who want it. Some may need to pay and some will be on free school meals.

Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will automatically have a free school meal provided which is part of a government initiative. Children in other classes will either have free school meals or will need to pay.

A school meal costs £2.30 per day which is £11.50 per week.

Sometimes parents choose to make a packed lunch for their children. This needs to be healthy and needs to come to school in a packed lunch box with your child’s name on it. If you would like to change from a packed lunch to a school meal, please let the office know as it impacts on food orders. .  Food is ordered in advance so if you want to change from school meals to packed lunches we will need two weeks notice to change your child's meal arrangements.  Any queries, please ring the school office.

What should and shouldn't be in a school packed lunch?

Food and drink in packed lunches:

• The school will provide facilities for pupils bringing in packed lunches and ensure that free, fresh drinking water is readily available at all times.
• The school will work with the pupils to provide attractive and appropriate dining room arrangements
• The school will work with parents to ensure that packed lunches abide by the standards listed below.
• As fridge space is not available in school, pupils are advised to bring packed lunches in insulated bags with freezer blocks where possible to stop the food going off.

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, peanut butter and falafel) every day
• oily fish, such as salmon, 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, still or sparkling, fruit juice, semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, yoghurt or milk drinks and smoothies.

Packed lunches should avoid:

• snacks such as crisps. Instead, include nuts, 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.
• confectionery such as chocolate bars, chocolate-coated biscuits and sweets. Cakes and biscuits are allowed but encourage your child to eat these only as part of a balanced meal.
• Meat products such as sausage rolls, individual pies, corned meat and sausages / chipolatas should be included only occasionally.

Special diets and allergies

Be aware of nut allergies. We recommend you visit the www.uhs.nhs.uk  website for accurate, reliable information on managing allergies in schools. 

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.