School lunches

Our hot school lunches are provided by Cleverchefs and are freshly prepared by our own chef in our kitchen each day. The meals are nutritionally balanced and prepared in accordance with the School Food Plan and comply the Food for Life Bronze Standard.

The menu rotates over a 3 week period and examples of the healthy food available include

• Lamb Hot Pot - slow cooked lamb and vegetables in an onion gravy topped with crispy potatoes with garden peas and roasted carrots
• Roast Cauli Steak - with smashed pea hummus with crispy baked potatoes and hispi cabbage, baked parsnips and carrots
• Jacket potato - choice of baked beans, tuna & sweetcorn, cheese or cheese and beans
• Old School Chocolate Sponge - served with custard
• Chocolate and beetroot brownie

The meals are all served with a selection of seasonal salads, low fat dressing and dips. Our chef also makes fresh bread everyday. Fruit yoghurts or fresh fruit are always available as an alternative dessert.

• All meat used will always be from British farms
• All vegetables will be served from fresh (except peas)
• Free-range eggs will only be used
• Sustainable fish suppliers will always be used
• All milk used will be from red tractor accredited farms
• All bread will be made fresh by the chef on site or come from a locally sourced baker

You can find more about Cleverchefs, which was founded in 2015 by Nick Collins and who you may have seen on Masterchef the Professionals, at https://www.cleverchefs.co.uk/.

While no nuts are used in cooking the meals, we can not guarantee that any products used do not contain traces of nuts or other allergens - if you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school office.

Special diets required because of a medical reason can be catered for; if there is a medical reason why your child requires a special diet, please contact the school office.

As part of the government-funded Universal Free School Meal scheme, all pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes are entitled to a school meal free of charge. If you would like your Key Stage 2 child to have hot meals, they are available at a cost of £2.40 per meal. Meals are ordered each half-term in advance and, where appropriate, paid for online through our School Money payment system.

Alternatively children can bring a packed lunch. We encourage the children to eat healthily as the right kind of food will help the brain to learn and the body to feel energetic. A suggested packed lunch would contain a sandwich/pasta, two pieces of fruit. Water is always available for all children during lunchtime. The link below provides some ideas for healthy lunch boxes

https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/childhealth6-15/Pages/Lighterlunchboxes.aspx

Lunchtime is seen as an important social activity in our school and the children eat together with their friends. 

Drinks brought to school should either be in plastic bottles, plastic flasks or in the card cartons. For reasons of safety, glass bottles or containers should not be brought to school.

Free School Meals

While Key Stage 1 children can all have a free hot meal, your Key Stage 2 child might also be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)

• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

• During the initial roll out of the benefit, Universal Credit

Please ask for a Free School Meal form at the school office, this can be completed and returned to the school or sent directly to the Admissions and Entitlements Team, County Hall, Taunton TA1 1DY or you can apply online at www.somerset.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals

Break time snacks

Fruit may be brought into school for a mid-morning snack. Parkfield Primary takes part in the National Fruit Scheme so all Key Stage 1 children are provided with a free piece of fruit each day.

Milk

Milk is available and if you would like your child to have a carton delivered to the school each day please let the school office know. There is a small charge for this once your child reaches the age of 5 and payment is made directly to the milk company.