School Meals, Food & Drink Initiatives
PLEASE REMEMBER WE ARE A NUT FREE SCHOOL.
School Meals
At St. Stephen’s we aim to provide meals that are healthy, appetising and appealing to our children. All our school meals will be prepared and cooked in our own kitchen by a catering company called Lunchtime Co. Meals include as much fresh, seasonal, unprocessed and locally sourced ingredients as possible including high welfare meat and sustainable fish.
Our school dinners meet all the national nutritional requirements, with bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, water and a selection of salads available on a daily basis. The menu will be displayed outside the school hall and is on the school website thus enabling parents and children to make informed choices.
We regularly ask children’s opinions about the menu. Children are encouraged by staff on duty to try new foods and often will experiment when they see their peers eating a variety of dishes.
Autumn Term 2023 Charges
Years 3 - 6
Under the mayor of London's free school meal for primary school children initiative, there will be no charge for school meals for the 2024-25 academic year/or until further notice.
Reception - Year 2
Meals for children in Reception, Y1 & 2 are FREE (part of the Government's universal free school meal initiative)
Registering for School Meals
- Children joining in September 2023 can register for school meals here - New Reception Children School Meals Registration Form Autumn
- Children joining the school mid-year can register here - In-Year Transition School Meals Application
FREE SCHOOL MEALS
Please note that there is an important difference between the government initiative to offer all primary school aged children free school meals and the existing free school meal scheme. If you are on benefits and would like help with paying for school meals, you may apply via the Borough for free meals for your child. For each eligible child, St. Stephen’s is allocated £1,300 p.a. to help support the child and maximise their progress. The funding goes towards paying for things like extra tuition; school uniform; trips and out of school provision (school/holiday clubs). The funding to the school will be lost unless eligible parents continue to apply for financial help. It is therefore important that if you think your family income means that your child is eligible but they’re not registered, please either go to www.richmond.gov.uk/free_school_meals and fill out an application form or go to www.fsm.lgfl.net where you can quickly and easily check eligibility. The online application process is linked to the Department for Education’s system and gives an immediate ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response.
HEALTHY PACKED LUNCHES
The school recognises that some children may want to bring in a packed lunch. We encourage parents to provide healthy and nutritious lunches. As part of our ongoing drive to ensure the children eat healthily, sweets, crisps and chocolate should not be brought into school. No glass bottles or tins should be brought in either. Please also note that due to dietary requirements or intolerance, and religious observance, we insist that no food may be swapped or shared from packed lunches. Food not eaten in a packed lunch will be sent home with the child to ensure that parents know what their child has or has not eaten. All packaging is send home to give the child the opportunity to recycle.
We understand it can be tough to get variety into their lunch boxes. If you would like some new ideas/inspiration, please click on the links below. Or make the switch to school meals: they already have to meet tough standards for nutrition, so you’ll know your child’s choosing from a healthy menu.
- http://letsgetcookingathome.org.uk/get-cooking/perfect-packed-lunches
- http://www.nhs.uk/Change4Life/Pages/healthy-lunchbox-picnic.aspx
- https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/school-packed-lunch-inspiration
- https://www.momables.com/10-nut-free-school-lunch-ideas/
HEALTHY SNACKS
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are provided with a piece of fruit at morning break.
Children in KS2 (Y3-Y6) need to bring in their own healthy snacks. A piece of fruit is ideal.
WATER
Children must bring in their own water bottles with a sports cap, especially before and after P.E. and during warm weather. Drinking water is accessible in school for water bottles to be refilled.
MILK
Every child under the age of five is entitled to free school milk. When a child reaches five they are then entitled to subsidised milk, around £15 per term. In order for this to happen, you need to register your child either by going online to www.coolmilk.com or send a form available from the school office to FREEPOST COOL MILK.
ALLERGIES, FOOD INTOLERANCE OR SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
No nuts are used in any food preparation as the school is a nut-free zone. This includes coconuts.
If your child has a food allergy or intolerance, please ask a member of our catering team for information.
If you are a parent or guardian and your child has a school lunch and has a food allergy or intolerance you will need to complete the form below to ensure we have the necessary information to cater for your child.
Please download the form below or ask for a form via the school office.
Please see our Nut Policy below.
Winchester Road,