School Lunches
Children can have a school meal or bring a packed lunch of their own
Food and School Meals
St Botolph’s is a Health Promoting School and has received its third Healthy Schools Award. We therefore take part in the Schools Fruit and Vegetable Scheme which allows under 7’s a piece of fruit or vegetable each day.
Parents are able to purchase milk for their children each day (please see the School Milk information within this section) and all children have water bottles in school allowing them constant access to water through the day.
Children are able to have hot school meals each day.
There is always choice of food and also a vegetarian option. Menus are published via ParentPay so that bookings can be made online at home. This gives parents the opportunity to choose in advance what their children are to eat each day. Our menu runs on a 3 week cycle.
School meals can be paid for weekly, termly or half termly in advance. Current prices are available on request from the school office. Parents can book and pay for meals using ParentPay, a secure online payment service. Some children are eligible for free school meals and parents will be able to request an application form from the school office.
Criteria For Free School Meals
You are eligible if you are in receipt of the following:
- Income Support;
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance;
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance;
- Child Tax Credit, as long as you do not get Working Tax Credit and whose annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) does not exceed £16,190;
- Support under part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999;
- Guarantee element of State Pension Credit;
- Universal Credit (with an annual take home pay of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods).
If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 and has a school meal, you will not be asked for payment as these are now funded by the Government. However, if you are in receipt of any of the above benefits please do complete a form at the school office as this enables the school to claim additional funding.
List of services
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Packed LunchesList Item 1
Parents should encourage their children to eat a healthy packed lunch.
We ask parents not to send fizzy drinks, glass containers, chocolate bars or sweets in a packed lunch.
We would also ask you not to send products containing nuts, especially peanuts. We have several children who are allergic to nuts and who could have serious reactions if exposed to nut products.
Lunch boxes should be clearly labelled with the child’s name and class
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School MilkList Item 2
Did you know our school is a member of the school milk scheme?
By registering your child for our school milk scheme they will receive a 189ml (third of a pint) carton of semi-skimmed milk every day. This is delivered fresh and chilled to their classroom every day.
“How much does it cost?”
Thanks to government subsidies, school milk is free for all under-fives and is subsided at around £15 a term for children aged five or older.
“Why should I register my child?”
School milk provides your child with essential nutrients such as calcium and protein, for strong, healthy teeth and bones. It is also rehydrating and energy boosting, helping to bridge the long gap between breakfast and lunch so children stay focused.
“How do I register my child?”
If your child is under five-
Go to www.coolmilk.com or pick up a form from school.
Just register by a Tuesday for your child’s free milk to start the following week.
Free milk will continue until the Friday before your child’s fifth birthday. You will receive a payment request three weeks before this time- if you wish for your child to continue to receive school milk simply make a payment.
If your child is over five-
Go to www.coolmilk.com or pick up a form from school.
Pay Cool Milk online, over the phone, at a local PayPoint or by cheque in instalments to suit you. If registering online you can pay straight away, if using a registration form you will need to wait to receive a payment request.
Just pay by a Tuesday for your child’s milk to start the following week.
“How do I find out more?”
Visit www.coolmilk.com or contact Cool Milk directly on 0844 854 2913.
Please can we politely ask if your child no longer wishes to have their milk, that you log into your Cool Milk account and cancel it, alternatively, contact Mrs Smith in the school office.
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Snacks and WaterList Item 3
As a healthy mid-morning snack, we encourage children to bring fruit (fresh or dried) or raw vegetables (no snack bars, sweets, chewing gum or crisps please). Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 pupils are provided – free of charge – with a portion of fruit or vegetable each day.
For younger children, where parents wish to provide the mid-morning snack themselves, it is recommended that it is prepared for easy eating and stored in a small plastic container.
Children are encouraged to drink water or flavoured water throughout the day. Squash is not allowed. Drinking water is available on tap in every classroom. It is recommended that every child brings in an individual, labelled water bottle.