School meals

Why have school meals?

Our school meals are designed to provide a varied, healthy and interesting menu for our children and are excellent value for money.

Meals are cooked and prepared fresh each day on site in our own kitchen, by our catering provider Aspens.   We are so excited to work with Aspens as they only cater for schools which means they can mix all their knowledge with an understanding of what’s hot in the food world which then sparks creativity and excitement in our fantastic chefs.  So, you can be sure of seeing some innovative dishes on our menus along with the traditional favourites you’d expect.  Find out more about Aspens by clicking Here .

Our kitchens provide delicious home cooked food each day and cater for individual dietary requirements.  We provide a good balance of healthy foods to support growth and development, and to encourage long-term good eating habits.  Meals are varied, to introduce our children to different foods.

Aspens tell us:

“We want everyone who eats with us to look forward to their mealtimes, love what they have to eat and then have the energy for everything else that the day has to offer.

We don’t just provide food, we play our part to educate children and raise awareness about nutrition, food and where it comes from, so that they can make informed and mindful choices.

Our actions can impact the environment, so we are dedicated to taking measures to reduce our footprint.  To find out more click Our Planet – Here .”

Remember too, that School meals provide your child with the opportunity to develop social skills while they enjoy eating with other children.  Research has shown that a healthy, nutritious school meal can provide your child with the energy required to concentrate in class and cope with the demands of the day. (The Guardian – ‘Pupils work improves after a healthy lunch’)

All payments for school lunches must be paid in advance through the ParentPay system which ensures we keep our cash handling down to a bare minimum.

If you feel you may be entitled to Free School Meals please click here for further information including details on how to apply.

Free School Meals

Families in our Dales Multi Academy Trust are being encouraged to check whether they may be eligible for free school meals.

A school meal may contribute to;

• improved behaviour in the afternoon
• improved concentration in the classroom
• a reinforcement of social skills and positive behaviour throughout the day
• a habit for healthy eating which is likely to stay with the child for life
• an increased intake of vegetables and a decline in consumption of soft drinks and crisps

Applying for free school meals is a simple process and there is no need to worry about other children knowing who does and doesn’t get free school meals as it’s a confidential service.

Remember, you could save up to £450 a year with free school meals for your child. School meals may also save you time and provide peace of mind that your child is enjoying a healthy, fresh, and nutritious meal at lunchtime.

Free school meals for all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils All children are eligible for free school meals if they’re in reception class; year 1; or year 2. Although these are not means tested – we ask that those receiving financial support still complete the form below so our school may benefit from additional funding of over £1200 per child.

Click this Link to: Complete for Free School Meals and help our school obtain additional funding

Free school meals for pupils of all years whose families receive financial support

If you get certain benefits, your child could also qualify for free school meals during all school years. Follow the link below to check if you qualify. If you are not sure it is worth completing the form to find out.

Click Here: Free School Meals – all years – check If we are entitled

Nursery Lunches

All Nursery children can take advantage of a 2 course hot school lunch.

Cool Milk

Many children in school are enjoying milk through the cool milk programme, the latest government initiative to ensure that children increase their calcium intake.

All children under the age of 5 are entitled to free school milk.  In the week that your child turns 5 they will no longer be eligible for free school milk but you can register and pay via the CoolMilk website.

Fruit

Preschool, Reception and KS1 children receive fruit every day.  Children in KS2 are welcome to bring in a piece of fruit to eat at playtime.

If you would like more information on healthy eating for your child please click here to visit the NHS Change4Life website where you can find some great recipe ideas and meal inspiration.