During the lunch break children may have a home-made freshly cooked school meal or bring a packed lunch.  Children are given a choice of school lunch

Our school dinners are freshly prepared every day in our kitchens. We run our own kitchen with the aim of providing good quality healthy meals at an affordable price.  Children are given a good choice of meals and these can be ordered on the day if required.

How do I order a school dinner for my child?
By providing us with your email address and mobile phone number we are able to set up an account for you on Schoolcomms. This will enable you to login and make online payments for meals via School Gateway or via the Schoolcomms app. Orders for lunches are also made using this online facility. You can order meals in advance and the cut-off point for ordering online is 8.15am on the day the meal is to be taken.

How much do school dinners cost?
The cost of a meal is currently £2.65 per day and once you have loaded your account with credit you are able to book meals using the Gateway.

How do I know which menu choices are available?
New menus are issued each term indicating choices available for each day.  An electronic version is of the menu is available to view or download from our school website. We currently offer main, vegetarian, baguette and jacket potato and packed lunch options each day. 

Children from Reception to Year 2 are automatically entitled to ‘Universal Free School meals.’ However, this is different to ‘Free School Meals’.

Some children, no matter what their age, including those of the age to receive Universal Free School meals, may also be entitled to Free School Meals if their parents are in receipt of identified benefits and state support.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to apply for free school meals when they enrol their child in school, as this can help their child’s school to attract additional ‘pupil premium‘ funding to support learning.

Children who are entitled to Free School Meals and/or Pupil Premium Funding may also benefit from extra support from the school such as a reduction in the cost of school trips and residentials and focused provision within in school.

School funding is explicitly linked to the number of children eligible for Free School Meals; the more children in receipt of free school meals means the more funding the school gets in its budget. Little Acorns can apply for Free School Meals as soon as they start in our Nursery. Nursery children who are entitled to Free School Meals can have their meal if they are in attendance for a full day, at least 9am-3pm.

If you are entitled to any of the following benefits then your child may be entitled to Free School Meals and Pupil Premium funding:

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods).
• Income Support (IS).
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA).
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (IRESA).
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit.
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, that does not exceed £16,190).
• Working Tax Credit run-on (the payment you get for a further 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit).

For more information or to apply through the Citizen Portal, please visit:
https://new.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/school-information/school-meals
​
Alternatively, call the Education Helpline on 0345 155 1019.

Children may choose to have school dinners, a packed lunch or may go home for lunch.  Water is provided but children may bring their own drinks to school provided they are in plastic containers or cartons.  For those children having a packed lunch we ask parents to support the school’s policy on healthy eating.

​
Snacks
If you wish, your child may bring a piece of fruit/vegetable or fruit drink for morning break.  The younger children (Key stage 1) are given a piece of free fruit each day.  We do not allow crisps, biscuits or chocolate bars of any description.

Our school has been recognised as outstanding within the area for its work in the ‘Healthy School’s Plus’ programme to encourage positive health related behaviours.