School Meals and Snacks
We recognise the important connection between a healthy, balanced diet and children’s ability to learn effectively and achieve high standards in school.
We aim to ensure that:
- all pupils are well nourished at school
- all pupils have access to safe, tasty, nutritious food and a safe, easily available water supply during the school day
- all members of the school community are able to make informed choices about the importance of food and its production
- the ethos and curriculum at our school create an environment which supports a healthy lifestyle.
We are committed to ensuring that we provide:
- a welcoming eating environment that encourages the positive social and cultural interaction of children and teachers
- food provision that reflects the ethical and medical requirements of staff and children, e.g. religious, ethnic, vegetarian, medical and allergenic needs
- opportunities for both children and parents to contribute to food policy and practice within the school to ensure healthy eating habits across the school
- training in practical food education for staff; including diet, nutrition, food safety and hygiene.
We recognise that eating and food is a fundamental experience for all people: a primary way to nurture and celebrate our cultural diversity, and an excellent bridge for building friendships, and intergenerational bonds.
We are nut free schools
Break times:
All Nursery children will be provided with a healthy snack.
All Infant aged children, (YR, 1 & 2), have the option of free fruit and vegetables as part of the government school fruit and vegetables scheme.
Junior aged children (Y3-6) are welcome to bring into school a healthy snack such as fruit, vegetables or cheese/cheese biscuits for the morning break time – please see snack policy.
Water:
The benefits of drinking plentiful amounts of water are widely recognised in improving children’s behaviour and concentration. All children are expected to bring their own, named, water bottle to school every day.
Children are encouraged to drink water throughout the day - drinking water is provided in all classrooms and water dispensers are available in the staff rooms.
At the Infant school, the meals are provided in-house and the team are led by the school chef, Mr Vidal.
At the Juniors, school meals are provided by Dolce. (Example menu below). All meals provided must meet the Government’s Minimum Nutritional Guidelines for school catering. (Please see information contained in our policy below). It is noted that Genetically Modified foods, foods containing nuts and mechanically re-claimed meat are strictly banned from school lunches.
Both schools ensure that the children receive all the nutrients required for a balanced diet. We believe that all children are entitled to good quality, fresh ingredients, prepared in an attractive and appetising manner. As much as possible, and within budgetary restraints, local, organic and fair-trade food, will be used. We expect that all children will be offered a balanced meal - carbohydrates, proteins and vegetables in each meal.