PACKED LUNCHES
Special diets and allergies:
· The school has a nut free policy. Parents are asked to support this policy through NOT including nuts or nut products in packed lunches.
We operate the ‘Always, Sometimes, Never’ approach to Packed Lunches
Packed lunches should ‘Always’ include:
· at least one portion of fruit and one portion of vegetables every day. Grapes and cherry tomatoes should be halved lengthways for Early Years/Reception class children
· meat, fish, eggs, or a non-dairy protein (e.g. lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas, houmous, falafel) every day.
· a starchy food such as any type of bread (white or wholegrain rolls, pitta bread or wraps), pasta, rice, couscous, noodles, potatoes or another cereal every day.
· a dairy food such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, fromage frais or custard every day.
· a bottle of water.
Packed lunches can ‘Sometimes’ include:
· A meat product such as a sausage roll or an individual pie or corned meat.
· A cake or biscuit.
· A packet of crisps.
Packed lunches should ‘Never’ include:
· Any confectionery such as chocolate bars and sweets.
· Any extremely sugary soft drinks, such as a fizzy drink and energy drink (even if labelled as ‘sugarfree’, ‘no added sugar’ or ‘reduced sugar’ as these drinks can contribute to tooth decay and provide little nutritional value).
Waste and Disposal
The school will, within reason, send any uneaten packed lunch food items back home. The rationale for this is that parents can also monitor what their child has consumed during the day and then raise any concerns over their child’s food intake with the school.
School lunches
Introduction
School meals in East Sussex are provided by Chartwells and our cooked on site at High Hurstwood.
A main option, vegetarian and Jacket potatoes with various fillings are available to order every day. Bread is made fresh for the children to have with their meal and a glass of milk is also provided at no extra cost. Fresh chilled water is also available.
We operate a cashless system for our lunches, with payment being made by Parentpay. All meals must be booked in advance on the system, and the choice of meal selected. Children who are in KS1 or who receive Free School Meals also need to use this system to book and choose meals, although no payment is necessary. Please can parents inform us of any special dietary needs or food allergies your child may have.
Free school meals
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to receive a free lunch every day. These meals are known as Universal Infant Free School Meals.
Some children are eligible for Free School Meals throughout their school life. If your child is eligible (see guidance below) it’s important that you let the school know as soon as possible at the beginning of the school year. Apply now and it will mean that when your child moves on to KS2 he/she will continue to receive FSM. It’s extra funding for school too. Schools receive valuable extra funding based on the number of children who have applied and are eligible for FSM.
You will need to be in receipt of one of the following benefits:
• Income support
• Income-based jobseekers allowance
• Income-related Employment & Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit (if you have a gross income of no more than £16,190).
Click here to find out more and download an application form.