School meals
A healthy and balanced diet is important for learning, and we offer a range of nutritious school meals to keep our pupils fuelled for the day.
A healthy and balanced diet is important for learning, and we offer a range of nutritious school meals to keep our pupils fuelled for the day.
Nursery and reception children receive free milk daily until the age of 5, but a form claiming the milk must be completed. You can also make arrangements to purchase milk for older children.
Foundation Stage and Key stage 1 children also receive a free piece of fruit/vegetable each day at morning break and Key stage 2 children are able to purchase fruit / vegetables daily at a cost of 10p per piece.
School meals can be chosen via the Arbor app and paid for via Arbor Pay. The cost of a meal is currently £2.70.
Many children may be entitled to free school meals and we encourage eligible parents to apply for this even if you don’t intend taking school meals as the school receives additional funding to support the education of each child entitled to free school meals. Information about this is available, in the strictest confidence, from Mrs Gliddon in the school office.
If your child has a packed lunch please ensure this is well balanced as healthy eating is part of our school curriculum. Children should have at least one piece of fruit or a vegetable e.g. carrot sticks every day. Please do not send in sweets, crisps or fizzy drinks. However on a Friday, which is ‘chip’ day for school dinners, children may bring crisps.
How to apply for free school meals
Free school meals are managed by your local authority. To check if you qualify and to apply, visit the government website or your local authority’s online portal. If your application is successful, both you and the school will receive confirmation, and the entitlement will be processed automatically.
To be eligible for free school meals, you must receive one of the following benefits:
· Income Support
· Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
· Child Tax Credit (not Working Tax Credit) with an annual income below £16,190
· Pension Guarantee Credit · Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
· Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
· Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying)
· Universal Credit with a household income of £7,400 or less (after tax and excluding benefits)
Pupils are welcome to bring a packed lunch from home. We encourage healthy choices, such as fresh fruit, vegetables, and wholegrain foods, to support their learning and wellbeing throughout the day.
If your child has any dietary requirements or allergies, please inform the school so we can make suitable arrangements. Please be aware of allergies of other pupils and follow and guidance you get from school about what food can be brought in from home.
Lift St James the Great
Chapman Way,
East Malling,
E19 6SD
