School Meals and how to order school milk
PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR A COPY OF OUR SCHOOL MEALS
Throughout the year we celebrate special days and events with themed day menus and treats. Parents are always informed in advance about any changes to the school menu these days. We are extremely fortunate to have our school dinners cooked each day in our kitchen through our contract with Nottingham City Catering Service. Our school cook ensures the menu is not only healthy and nutritious but enjoyable for all.
The Cantrell School Meal Wristband System
We operate a wristband system for our school dinners. This means that the meals on our school menu are all colour co-ordinated.
RED is a meat based meal, GREEN is a vegetarian meal and YELLOW is a jacket potato meal or baguette/sandwich meal.
Before lunch, your child will be given a Red, Green or Yellow wristband according to their chosen meal. Wristbands will then be handed to the member of the kitchen staff serving dinners in exchange for the appropriate meal. All puddings will be chosen by the child at this point. This system is to reduce food wastage and help the catering team to cater for the different dietary needs of our children.
Cost of School Meals for children in Years 3 to 6
From 1st September 2024 the cost of a school dinner is £2.70 per day (£13.50 a week). School meals are to be paid in advance on your sQuid account.
Universal Free School Meals for children in Reception to Year 2
Please remember that all children in Reception, Years 1 and 2 are automatically entitled to a free school dinner each day under the Universal Free School Meals scheme introduced by the Government.
Free School meals Explained!
All Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a Universal Free School Meal (often referred to as UFSM as above).
If you are in receipt of certain benefits, you may be entitled to Free School Meals (FSM). The difference is that if you are entitled to FSM there are other means of support that you can tap into. Once you are in receipt of benefits related to Free School Meals, your child’s school will receive additional funding (Pupil Premium) to help and support you through your child’s education. The school will also receive extra support to deliver a fully inclusive and accessible education for all of our pupils.
You can apply for Free School Meals at any time while your child is at Cantrell Primary School.
For example:
If you apply and are entitled to Free School Meals in Reception class, the funding is there to support you for your child’s entire time at Cantrell. If you become eligible in year 5, then the Pupil Premium funding goes with you to secondary school.
How can Pupil Premium funding help me?
Pupil Premium funding is used at the schools' discretion to support children. Each situation is assessed individually, but examples of the support available are listed below:
Help with before and after-school childcare
Support with payment for trips if receiving FSM
Music lessons subsidy
Counselling support
Is my child eligible?
Your child may 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 also not entitled to a 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
- Universal Credit -Your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.
Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:
- Younger than the compulsory age for starting school
- In full-time education
If you are eligible for benefits-related free school meals in accordance with the above criteria, and your child is also receiving Universal Infant Free School Meals, please still apply. This will enable your child's school to claim valuable 'pupil premium' funding.
If either parent works within the armed forces or if a child is looked after from care they may also be eligible for benefits. Documentation will need to be provided in these instances.
Packed Lunches
We encourage parents/carers to prepare healthy packed lunches. Further information is available below:
https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/recipes/healthier-lunchboxes/
http://www.nhs.uk/change4life/Pages/healthy-lunchbox-picnic.aspx
Cool Milk
Please speak to the school office for further details.