Catering

Catering


Every pupil in Reception, Year 1 & 2 is eligible for free school meals. These are three of the 16 actions in the School Food Plan, which aims to transform what children eat in schools and how they learn about food (see www.schoolfoodplan.com).

Good food and good food culture has been shown to lead to not only healthier, happier and more fulfilled children, but to improved educational attainment. Evidence from areas in the country that already provide universal free school meals shows that children eat more healthily and perform better academically. Schools in those areas have also reported improved behaviour and atmosphere as a result of all pupils eating together every day.

We believe that the school lunchtime is a great opportunity for all our children to sit down together and enjoy their healthy and tasty meal, while developing their social skills. We therefore hope that all parents will take up this offer of a free school meal for our infant pupils (Year R, 1 and 2).

Children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 may purchase a school lunch. The current cost for a school meal is £2.67 per day and must be paid for in advance. It is prepared on site and served in the school hall. We have appointed Principals Catering Services to provide a lunch daily. Dinners can be paid for online via www.principals-catering.com.  Alternatively, money should be sent into school in a clearly marked envelope with the child’s name, class and amount on the front. Dinner money is a matter between Principals Catering and yourselves, not the school. Dinners for full time Nursery children are £2.67.

As an alternative, children may bring a packed lunch. This needs to be put in a suitable container clearly marked with your child’s name and class. Any drinks provided must not be in glass bottles or cans. Water bottles are available from the school office.

Free School Meals


If you are in receipt of a benefit listed below, you may be entitled to Free School Meals:

  • Income Support
  • Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Universal Credit – if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less that £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
  • Guaranteed Element of Pensions Credit
  • Child Tax Credit (without working Tax Credit) and an annual income of £16,190
  • Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credits
  • Support Under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999

If you are entitled to Free School Meals, your child does not have to have a school meal, you can continue to provide a packed lunch or the kitchen will provide one for you. However, by registering your child can automatically participate in all the dinner fun days organised by the school, the kitchen will also organise a packed lunch for any school trips.

All schools receive additional funding called pupil premium from the Government which is based on the number of children registering for free school meals. Queenborough School uses these funds for a whole range of initiatives to enhance the children’s education and wellbeing and more information can be found on this website under ‘Pupil Premium’. It is therefore very important that those entitled to free school meals register so that the school receives the maximum amount available for the benefit of all our children.

To apply, please either download the form below and complete and return to the school office or apply directly via the KCC website.

Downloadable form: ‘Application form’ for Free School Meals

KCC website: www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals