School Meals

Everything You Need to Know About Healthy Eating at School!

Georgeham CofE Primary School - Lunch Menu

On this page you can find everything you need to know about how we approach eating in school including information about school dinners, healthy packed lunches and free school meals (including how to apply). We hope this answers all your questions but please do not hesitate to pop in and see us if you have any concerns at all – eating at school can be a daunting prospect for many children and we want to make it a pleasurable and healthy experience for all. Jayne Carter, our Catering Manager, or the head teacher will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have. A copy of the termly School Menu will always be posted on this page – please do talk to your child in the morning about the menu choices that day. This really helps us in the mornings!

School Dinners

All meals are cooked on site by our Catering Manager, Jayne. Our school dinner menu follows strict nutritional guidelines led by Ventrus (and Government guidelines) and our aim is to encourage all children to enjoy eating healthy food by offering a range of choices including a daily salad bar with 6 options and fruit as well as a range of vegetable side dishes. Our puddings use lower sugar recipes and we often add hidden vegetables to our meals to ensure that children eat a varied diet and do not miss out on nutritional content because they do not like the vegetables served as side dishes.

We want our children to enjoy their mealtime experience. We encourage them to try different foods and eat a balanced meal, however we do not operate a policy of forcing children to finish meals as we believe that can lead to a lifelong dislike of eating specific types of food.

We provide free school dinners for all children in Key stage 1 (which is Reception, Year 1 and 2). Once children move into Classes 3 and 4 school dinners are available for just £2.70 per day
(pls check current price with the school office in case of change) .
The three-week rotation menu follows government nutritional standards and changes termly. We offer three or four healthy options each day including a main meal, a vegetarian option, a jacket potato or a filled roll and salad from the salad bar.

Children select their lunch choices at morning registration. Please talk about their choice before, or on the way to, school so that they remember what they like (and want) each day, otherwise the process can take a big chunk out of our learning time.

We are used to catering for children with a wide range of allergies – we will need written notification when your child commences school or is first diagnosed with an allergy so we can be sure to cater appropriately. The information will be recorded on the student profile until you provide written confirmation of any change.

We ask that you respect our NUT-FREE school status if providing a packed lunch

Packed Lunches in Key Stage 2 (Classes 3 and 4)

Children may bring in packed lunches for lunch time. We ask that you consider healthy eating when making lunch choices. Healthy snacks are allowed but please no chocolate, fizzy drinks, heavily salted snacks, or sweets. We also ask you to consider the environmental impact of pre-packed products.

Children in Key Stage 1 () are provided with a free school meal each day. There is a a hot and cold option (roll and salad). We encourage all families to utilise the school meals however appreciate that some children may wish to bring in their own packed lunch.

School Trips

Pupil Premium children will be provided with a packed lunch when they are away on school trips. These lunches are prepared in line with the same nutritional guidelines as our daily school dinners. Otherwise parents will be advised, on the school trip letter, that a packed lunch and water are required for any offsite trips or sporting events that require it.

Playtime Snacks

Through a government scheme, children in Class 1 and 2 are provided with a piece of fresh fruit or veg every day. We encourage children in Classes 3 and 4 to bring healthy snacks for their playtime considered to be a piece of fruit or veg like the younger children, and not biscuits, sweets or crisps.

Drinking Water

Children are encouraged to bring a bottle of water to school and to drink through the school day. They should be brought home daily for a clean and re-fill. We don’t allow juices, squash or flavoured water in the drinking bottles according to advice given by the School Nurse team. They aren’t good for the teeth and we’ve found that children also end up having mouldy bottles where they’ve left them for too long! The water in the classrooms is safe to drink.

Rewards and Treats

We don’t use food as incentives or rewards and we ask that children do not come into school with sweets or treats on their birthday or as part of school trips. We believe that the school menus provide a sufficiently rounded meal for all children and we do not wish to promote excessive sugar consumption in the classroom.

Free School Meals FUNDING

Free school meals provide vital nutrition for children during the school day. From September 2026 many more families became eligible. Here's what parents need to know.

Who will benefit from the expanded free school meals?

Over half a million additional pupils became eligible for Free School Meals under the new eligibility criteria. The change means that all households receiving Universal Credit, including those above the previous income cap, will qualify for this support.

This expansion builds upon the existing provision which already covers:

2.2 million disadvantaged children
90,000 low-income students in Further Education
Around 1.2 million infants under the Universal Infant Free School Meals programme

When will these changes take effect?

The new eligibility came in to effect in September 2026. Families receiving Universal Credit will now be able to access free school meals, those families will have been informed.

How will children benefit?

Beyond the financial benefits, this programme ensures children receive nutritious meals during school hours, which supports their learning and concentration in the classroom, physical health and development and overall wellbeing. The government is also acting quickly to revise the School Food Standards, so every school is supported with the latest nutrition guidance.

It's important to note that while eligibility will be automatically granted to all Universal Credit recipients, families will still need to actually apply to receive the benefit. Please consider applying if you think you are eligible, as the funding can make a real difference to families and schools.
Apply for free school meals - GOV.UK

So how do I qualify for Free School Meals?

Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:

Universal Credit, regardless of household income.
Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Child Tax Credit (where you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual household income does not exceed £16,190)
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Asylum seeker support