School Lunches
We are very pleased to announce that from January 2024 our school lunches will be provided by HCL. HCL menus follow strict healthy eating guidelines. As a school we also encourage parents to provide healthy packed lunches and snacks too.
Please remember we are an allergy-aware school. All snacks and packed lunches provided from home should be nut free.
Cost of Meals
School lunches are FREE for all children in Reception and Key Stage 1, (years 1 & 2). This is because they are entitled to government-funded universal infant free school meals, (UIFSM). Lunches are also free to those children in years 3,4,5 & 6 who are entitled to free school meals. See below for further information.
For those children in Key Stage 2, (years 3, 4, 5 &6) who pay for lunches, the cost will be £2.50 a day. Payments must be made in advance online via SchoolGrid.
***Please note the school cannot give credit***
Free School Meals & Pupil Premium Grant
Every year, schools receive additional funding called the Pupil Premium Grant, (PPG) which is linked to Free School Meals. The school carefully uses this funding to provide additional support to pupils and to help families with the cost of things such as day visits, residentials, uniform and extra curriculum clubs.
ALL children in Reception, year 1 and year 2 automatically qualify for Universal Infant Free School Meals, but they DO NOT automatically qualify for the additional PPG.
A child may be eligible for PPG if their family is in receipt of one of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support from NASS (National Asylum Support Service) under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
- Universal Credit
We're aware that a number of families who may be entitled to the additional funding still don't claim. Even if your child currently has a packed lunch, or is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, and you receive any of the above benefits, you should still apply. Please click the link below to see if you qualify and follow the instructions on how to claim.
School Grid - Lunch Ordering
HCL use an app called SchoolGrid which enables families to order school meals in advance.
All school meals MUST be ordered via SchoolGrid, whether Free School Meals, Universal Free School Meals or Paid School Meals. Please ensure your SchoolGrid account is set up in advance or you will be unable to order your child's lunches. Information on how to set you your SchoolGrid account can be found in the SchoolGrid parent leaflet at the bottom of this page.
Log into SchoolGrid: SchoolGrid
Lunches should be ordered where possible by a Friday for the following week or, alternatively, choices can be made weeks in advance. Meals must be ordered by 8:50 each day.
Please note the following if your child is absent from school for any reason.
If your child is going to be absent from school for any reason, it is parents' responsibility to cancel their child's meal. If you pay for lunches and do not cancel on time, you will still be charged. You can cancel via SchoolGrid before 8:50 on the day in question or call the school office before 9:30. The office can cancel the dinner for you. Please do not email for dinner cancellations as we cannot guarantee to see any emails prior to the 9:30 deadline.
If you do not pre-order lunches, you will need to provide a packed lunch from home.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions regarding school meals, allergens, payments etc, please do not hesitate to contact HCL Customer Care, Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm, on 01707 938625, or email hcl.info@hcl.co.uk
Special Diets/Allergies & Food Intolerance
If your child has any allergies or special dietary/allergy requirements, it is your responsibility to inform HCL. The link below will take you to the HCL special diets page and guide you through the process. Please note, special diets will take time to be processed and put into effect, so applications must be made as soon as possible.