School Meals
School Meals
We encourage all children to have a healthy and nutritional meal at lunchtime and a snack during morning break. Research shows that children who have a nutritionally balanced meal (rather than one that has too much sugar and fat) are better able to concentrate in lessons. All meals prepared at a maintained school must comply with the government Standards for school food in England.
We also encourage children to keep hydrated with water during the school day. We kindly request that drinks bottles are filled only with water.
If your child is not eating their meals the Mealtime Assistant will let the class teacher know. Children will be encouraged to eat their lunch; however, staff will not insist that children eat food they do not want. If your child does not finish their packed lunch the remains will stay in the lunch box so that parent and carers can monitor what the child has eaten.
Important: Please note that we have a no nuts or seeds policy as we may have children and staff in school with severe allergies.
Many parents choose to provide packed lunches whereas others take advantage of the fantastic Devon Norse school meals we have available. Children order their meals each day and parents are able to pay through Parent Pay. At just £2.30 per meal, lots of parents find them excellent value for money.
Free School Meals
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 at state schools in England automatically get free school meals. However, parents and carers are encouraged to apply for free school meals when they enrol their child in school, as this can help their child’s school to attract additional ‘pupil premium‘ funding to support learning.
From Year 3 onwards, children whose parents are in receipt of any of the following are entitled to free school meals:
Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods).
Income Support (IS).
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA).
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (IRESA).
The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit.
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, that does not exceed £16,190).
Working Tax Credit run-on (the payment you get for a further 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit).
Children who receive a qualifying benefit in their own right can also get free school meals.
Healthy Eating
School Fruit and Veg Scheme
If your child is aged 4 to 6 and attends a fully state-funded infant, primary or special school in England, they're entitled to receive a free piece of fruit or vegetable each school day. That provides 1 of their 5 A Day portions, and the scheme also helps to increase awareness of the importance of eating fruit and vegetables, encouraging healthy eating habits that can be carried into later life.
Teachers find that distributing the fruit in class groups helps to encourage a sharing, calm, social time. It also allows them to incorporate the scheme into teaching and learning.
Cool Milk
Our school provides a milk scheme through Cool Milk that is available to all of our pupils. School milk is free for under 5s, and for over 5s it is available at a subsidised price. Cool Milk is the UK’s leading school and nursery milk supplier, working in partnership with local authorities and early years groups to supply free and subsidised school milk to children in pre-schools, nurseries and primary schools.
School milk at mid-morning break is an important part of a child’s diet. Milk provides a number of health benefits and social opportunities that ensure children get the most out of their school day. As part of the School Food Plan, all maintained primary, infant, junior and secondary schools are now legally required to make milk available for drinking during school hours.
Each child that registers with Cool Milk will receive a 189ml portion of semi-skimmed milk every day, delivered fresh and chilled to the classroom. Their school milk will not only provide them with essential nutrients, but as it is rehydrating and energy boosting it also bridges the gap between breakfast and lunch to help children stay focused.
All Reception children are automatically registered with Cool Milk when they start with us. Free milk will continue until the Friday before the child’s fifth birthday. If parents and carers wish for their child to continue receiving milk at a subsidised price after this point, they can register and pay online at www.coolmilk.com or fill in the registration form below and hand into the school office.
School Milk Registration Form (1).pdf