School Meals

At Haslingden St James' CE Primary, we like to promote healthy eating whether it be a packed lunch from home or a school meal. We are working towards the Food for Life Bronze award - which means we're giving our school dining experience and school meals extra attention to ensure an enjoyable lunchtime experience! Please read on for further information about free school meals and our dining options.

Pupil Premium Important information

Although all children in KS1 are entitled to receive a free school meal and no application is required to accept this, some children have a statutory entitlement to free school meals. The school can qualify for additional funding called pupil premium worth over £1,455 per child, if the parent is receiving any of the following;

  • Income Support
  • Income based job seekers Allowance
  • Income related ESA (employment and support allowance)
  • Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1990
  • Child Tax Credit and with annual income of less that £16,190 and not receiving Working Tax Credit
  • Working Tax Credit ‘run on’ – the payment you receive for a further 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit

If you think you qualify for statutory free school meals, please complete the form in the link below (external website) and return it to the local education office. If you are unsure, please speak with the office staff who are happy to assist.

If either parent is registered disabled, please let the school office know.

School Dinners – Provided by Lancashire County

Council catering services

Children have a choice of 2 meals every day, with fruit and yoghurt available daily. The menu is changed in the winter and the summer to offer a wide variety of choice, and is on a 3 week rota. We are a meat-free school, Quorn is used to substitute any meals which would normally contain meat.

Please encourage your child to try different foods, as some of the menu choices may be food they have never seen or been offered before. It can take a child several tastes before they like a food, so lots of encouragement is given at lunch, with stickers given to those who have tried different foods or have eaten all of their meal.

However, if your child really doesn’t like the school meals offered, it may be a more suitable option to provide a packed lunch, hungry children make unhappy children and they are unable to concentrate well in the afternoon session.

Lunch

You will be given the choice as to whether you would like your child to take a school meal at a cost of £11.75 per week, or whether you would like to provide a packed lunch. All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a free school meal.

Autumn/Winter 23 24 Menu

Packed Lunch

If you choose to provide a packed lunch, please send your child with a small lunch box and a plastic flask or bottle. In the interests of safety, no glass bottles or cans should be brought in to school. We are working towards being a healthy school and therefore discourage children bringing fizzy drinks, chocolate or sweets as part of their lunch.