We encourage all children to have a healthy and nutritional meal at lunchtime and a snack during morning break.
Research shows that children who have a nutritionally balanced meal (rather than one that has too much sugar and fat) are better able to concentrate in lessons.
We also encourage children to keep hydrated during the school day, preferably with water or other drinks without additives or added sugar.
All meals prepared at a maintained school must comply with the government Standards for school food in England.
Free school meals
Get the latest information about the free school meals holiday voucher scheme.
Children under the age of 19, attending state-funded schools could be eligible to receive free school meals.
Your child will be eligible for free school meals if:
- they are currently in KS1 under the Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) Scheme
- you receive one of the qualifying benefits and have an eligible application
- you have No Recourse to Public Funds and have an eligible application
If you think your child is eligible, you can find out more and how to apply through us.
Holiday activities and food (HAF) programme
The aim of the HAF programme is to support children to eat more healthily, be more active over the school holidays and have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition as well as be more engaged with school and other local services.
You can find out more information about the HAF programme and whether your child is eligible.
Healthy Start scheme
If you have children under four years old, or are pregnant, and you or your family receive qualifying benefits, you may be eligible for free food and vitamin vouchers from the Healthy Start scheme.
Healthy Start is a programme to help families with young children get free food vouchers to spend on milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables and infant formula milk. You can also get free vitamins for children under four (vitamin A, C and D) and vitamins if you are pregnant (folic acid and vitamin C and D).
Applying is easy – you can apply online, or by phone or email if you receive Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Pension Credit (which includes the child addition).
Once you are registered, food vouchers are posted to you every four weeks and vitamin coupons every eight weeks.