School Meals
At St. Joseph’s, we believe that only the best is good enough!
Cook Judy and her team freshly prepare all our school meals on site, using locally sourced natural produce. By using our own butcher, fishmonger and greengrocer, we know exactly what our children are eating… and there is nothing better than a home cooked meal at lunchtime.
Our children love the friendly social atmosphere of eating and enjoying their food with their friends. Assisted by our wonderful lunchtime staff, the children are encouraged to try new foods. Check the school calendar for when you can come and join your child on one of our Family Lunch days and see for yourself.
Feedback from Parents on our School Meals
"thank you, so much for the opportunity to come and enjoy a family lunch!"
"it's delicious! and hot! and such good quality"
"best jacket potato!"
Should you have any questions about our school dinners, please contact Mrs Derry (known as Cook Judy) who will be happy to assist.
Our delicious, nutritious school meals, comprising of a main, dessert and drink can be purchased for an amazing £2.60!*
*KS1 children currently enjoy a free school dinner (snack at break-time is not included) as part of the Universal Infant Free School Meals program.
We ask that you pre-order your child's meal in advance giving both you and your child the peace of mind knowing that they are receiving a nutritious meal that they will enjoy. Please see instructions below for how to order.
All snack and dinner money is payable in advance via ParentPay, and we request that you check your child's account regularly to prevent any deficit.
MENUS (from 4th November 2024)
Allergens
Free School Meals & UNIVERSAL INFANT FREE SCHOOL MEALS
To try and help keep things a bit simpler; please note the key for explaining information below between provisions.
Free School Meals (FSM)
Parents must meet the criteria detailed below and complete a application form. If you are eligible to claim, we encourage you to do so as each valid claim attracts additional funding to the school
Parents complete an on line application form. For every pupil registered with the council as eligible under the entitlement criteria, the school will receive additional funding in the school budget called Pupil Premium which is used to help raise achievement levels. This also includes enabling access to facilities, clubs, and subsidising trips and residential. If you do not claim for Free School Meals, then the Pupil Premium funding will not be available for your child (e.g. subsidising the above).
You will still need to book your child's meal on ParentPay.
Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM)
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will be eligible for a school meal free of charge from September, no application and no additional funding to School.
All children in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 will be eligible for a Universal Free School Meal. No application is needed but no additional funding to the school is received. UIFSM will not provide break-snack (available for Y1-Y6), this remains payable via ParentPay.
The provision of Universal Free School Meals aims to play a key role in promoting and supporting healthy eating and lifestyles. It will enable children to try a wider range of foods, as well as give them the fuel they need for an afternoon of focused and high quality learning.
You do not need to apply for UIFSM, your child will automatically receive it when they are at school, saving you time and expense. However, if your child does not regularly partake of a school meal, we will lose the funding therefore we strongly recommend that you encourage your child to have a school meal each day, even if they only have part of the meal (eg drink, salad or pudding).
In summary:
- If you meet the suggested criteria for FSM, please submit a claim and this will maintain the level of funding to school.
- A blanket entitlement to UIFSM will be provided to all in Reception Class, or Year 1 or Year 2 class.
We would encourage all parents to apply and check eligibility especially if your circumstances change.
If you need any further assistance, please contact Mrs Russon in the school office
Parentpay
In order for your child to receive a school meal you will need to have booked it in advance on ParentPay by 8 am on the day the meal is required, if no meal is booked it will be expected that your child will be sent with a packed lunch from home. You will not be able to make any changes to this booking after 8 am on the day of the booking.
HOW TO ORDER YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL MEALS ON PARENTPAY
Once selected (you will be able to pre-book for a number of days/weeks in advance) you will then be required to add funds (not required for UIFSM or FSM) and confirm before your booking is complete, once completed this information will be sent to Cook Judy..
Should your child no longer require a school lunch, you are able to cancel the booking on ParentPay if it is before 8 am on the day of booking.
Break Time Snacks
Cook Judy also provides Break-time Snack items to help rumbly tums get through until lunch!
You will need to book your child's Break-Time snack in the same way that you pre-book their lunch.
Once logged on to ParentPay you will need to select the "Meal Booking" option. Once on this screen, change the drop down (see the little arrow next to the word Lunch) to Break-Time. This will change the option you can select.
You will choose from the following list and this will then be delivered to your child's class in time for morning break!
You can choose ONE item from:
- Toast
- Crumpet
- Milk
- Milkshake
You will then need to pay for the items selected (40p per item). As with lunches you can select as many days/weeks in advance you wish and can book up until 8 am on the morning that snack is required. If you no longer want your child to have a snack (or they are ill) that has already been booked you will need to log back in and cancel those items (again this can be done up until 8am on the day).
Should you need any assistance please contact the school office.
SCHOOL LEAVERS
Any children leaving St Joseph's will have any ParentPay credit balance over £5 refunded back to the card paid on (subject to a credit being made in the last 12 months) or transferred to a sibling still in school.
Pre-School children transferring to Reception in September will have a new ParentPay account issued in September and any credit/debit balances transferred over to it.
Many thanks for your assistance.
