School Lunch
Please note: WE ARE A NUT FREE SCHOOL.
Children who suffer from nut allergies can develop a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. If someone has a nut allergy, it is not just eating nuts that can cause a severe reaction, just being touched on the skin or smelling the breath of someone who has had nuts or a product containing nuts can trigger anaphylactic shock (which can cause breathing and swallowing difficulties). First aid staff in the school are trained to use the Epi-pens (an injection of adrenalin), which is required immediately if this happens.
We cannot have nuts in school OR on school grounds in any form due to a member of our school community having a severe nut allergy.
School lunch is critical to our pupil’s health and well-being; it also ensures that they have the nutrition they need throughout the day to learn.
It is important that lunchtime is an enjoyable experience for your child so each morning we ask your child what they would like to eat for their lunch. Can we please ask you to look at the menu with your child, so that they can be ready to give their choice each day. There are always three options for the main meal, which includes a vegetarian and jacket potato option. Thank you for your assistance with this.
About our School Lunches
Our school meals are provided by a catering company called Mellors Catering. Mellors Catering Services is committed to delivering an exciting choice of food. They use only the finest, freshest ingredients from local suppliers, which means better quality food. Please take a look at Mellors Catering to find out more about the company.
There is usually a three weekly lunch menu each term, which follows the Food Plan guidance.
As we are a 'cashless' school, lunches are paid through an electronic system called ParentPay. Parents are issued with login details to access the website. Once on ParentPay, services can be paid for, such as school lunches, view the school lunch menu and even see what your child has eaten for their lunch. The price of a child's school meal is £2.80.
What do I do if my child has a food allergy?
If your child has an allergy then please contact Mrs J. Taylor (SENDCo) to arrange a meeting. This can be done by emailing enquiries@outwoods.staffs.sch.uk
Free School Meals
All Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 pupils receive free Universal Infant Free School Meals, which is provided via a government grant. Please note that this is different to claiming Free School Meals (FSM) due to your financial circumstances. Even if your child receives universal free school meals and you are entitled to claim, we urge you to apply for Free School Meals, as the school receives additional funding.
To claim Free School Meals, please complete the online form or contact the office if you need assistance.
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 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)
Packed Lunches
School Meals are a great choice, but if your child would prefer a packed lunch then please see the top tips for healthier lunchbox ideas.Get them involved
Get your kids involved in preparing and choosing what goes in their lunchbox. They are more likely to eat it if they helped make it.
Variety is the spice of lunch!
Be adventurous and get creative to mix up what goes in their lunchbox. Keeping them guessing with healthier ideas will keep them interested and more open to trying things.
Always add veg
Cherry tomatoes, or sticks of carrot, cucumber, celery and peppers all count towards their 5 A Day. Adding a small pot of reduced-fat hummus or other dips may help with getting kids to eat vegetables.
Cut down on crisps
If your child really likes their crisps, try reducing the number of times you include them in their lunchbox, and swap for homemade plain popcorn or plain rice cakes instead.
Add bite-sized fruit
Try chopped apple, peeled satsuma segments, strawberries, blueberries, halved grapes or melon slices to make it easier for them to eat. Add a squeeze of lemon juice to stop it from going brown.
Switch the sweets
Swap cakes, chocolate, cereal bars and biscuits for malt loaf, fruited teacakes, fruit breads or fruit (fresh, dried or tinned – in juice not syrup).
Plan to Eatwell
The guide shows how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet. It can be useful when thinking about what goes into kids' lunchboxes.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/the-eatwell-guide/