Lunchtime Matters
The schools within the multi academy Trust all use Chartwells Catering for their on site school dinner provision.
Meals are currently priced at £2.89 (currently free for Reception, year 1 and 2)and are taken in the dining hall. There is a choice of two hot meals, jacket potato and sandwiches followed by a dessert or fruit. Bread and salad are always available and meals are nutritionally balanced. Menus rotate on a three weekly basis and parents order from home via ParentPay. Menus change twice yearly.
Every few months there is a promotional day such as ‘Burgershack’ or ‘Football Fiesta’.
There is the option to be flexible, mixing school dinners with packed lunches from home. Please see the accompanying menus.
All pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 in state-funded schools should be offered a universal infant free school meal (UIFSM). Existing entitlements for free school meals (FSM) for eligible pupils in Nursery classes and at Key stages 1 and 2 will continue, based on the existing FSM eligibility criteria for those group of pupils. Please see FSM eligibility download below.
At Lostock Hall we have had a tremendous uptake of UIFSM and are currently providing a meal for over 90% of our eligible pupils.
Schools are legally required to provide meals that comply with the school food standards. These standards are intended to ensure that children get the nutrition they need across the whole school day. They govern all food and drink on offer within the school and apply across the school day, including breakfast, mid-morning break, lunchtime and food served after school.
If you would like more information about UIFSM or the Food Standards Agency please follow the attached link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-infant-free-school-meals
Free School Meals - Am I Eligible?
Pupils whose parents/guardians/carers receive any one of the following may be eligible;
- Universal Credit with no earned income or with net monthly earnings less than £616.67
- Income Support
- Income based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income related Employment Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit - as long as you have a yearly household income of less than £16,190 (as assessed by HM Revenue and Customs) and do not get Working Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
If you think you are eligible please call 0300 123 5012 for a quick decision. Eligibility is reviewed periodically and providing you are still eligible your claim will be renewed automatically.
You must keep us informed if your personal circumstances change once you receive free school meals — e-mail: freeschoolmeals@cheshireeast.gov.uk or call 0300 123 5012