School lunches

Lunch is prepared in school each day and served in the school hall.

Reception, Year 1 and Year 2

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a meal, free of charge, under the universal infant free school meals programme. Registration is not required for children to have the free meals.

However, the school can get government funding for all children who meet the standard free meal criteria. The funding is called the Pupil Premium. To let schools get the funding for as many pupils as possible, we encourage parents of children who meet the standard free meal criteria to register. This includes parents of children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.

Years 3, 4, 5 and 6

Children in Key Stage 2 are not entitled to a free meal unless they meet the criteria for free school meals and have successfully registered. The current cost of a school meal is £2.70 per day (£13.50 a week) paid for up front so that all dinner money accounts are kept in credit. Payment can be made online, using Arbor.

In the event that an account has an outstanding balance, which we appreciate could happen through some oversight, we will notify parents and expect the debt to be cleared within 24 hours. If after this time the amount is still outstanding your child will need to bring in a packed lunch as we will not be able to provide a full school meal until the debt has been cleared. We will contact you on the day to inform you that this is happening. Any long standing debt will be referred to Hampshire County Council’s Legal Department for action.

Free school meals criteria

A child is eligible for free school meals if their parent or carer receives one or more of the following benefits:

  • 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

  • Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

To check your child's eligibility for pupil premium or continued free school meals (from Key Stage 2), use the online checking facility.

To complete a check you need the following information for yourself or the person you are checking on behalf of:

  • your own name, date of birth, and contact details

  • National Insurance number or National Asylum Seekers number

  • child's name and date of birth

  • school your child is attending or will attend

Please contact the school if you have any queries about free school meals.