Catering Policy

1. Introduction

Our Catering Policy is a shared, evolving document for all stakeholders that interact with the school. It expresses a common vision of the ethos, status, and role of all aspects of food within the school. It encourages all aspects of food to be brought together, clearly, coherently and consistently. 

Food in schools includes: 

• raising awareness of healthier diets and obesity issues and the effects on outcomes for children and young people, (NCMP figures Primary) and oral health; 
• extra curricular activities, e.g. cookery club, school gardens, film nights; 
• participation in national events and initiatives, e.g. National School Fruit Scheme, Essex Healthy Schools Programme, Growing Schools, Change 4 Life; 
• provision of food at school, e.g. breakfast clubs, school lunches, fluid consumption and use of food as a reward; 
• consumption of food at school, e.g. eating environment, service style, time, litter, pupils bringing food to schools, packed lunches (including information to parents); 
• events at school, e.g. school fete, after school clubs and holiday clubs; 
• pastoral care and welfare issues, e.g. behaviour, free school lunches. 

1. Rationale

Spring Meadow Primary School catering policy sets out the school’s formal commitment to serving healthy food and supporting children developing positive relationships with healthy foods. It links this to education and life skills in order to promote optimal health, to develop social skills and to ensure maximum educational attainment of all students. 

The Governors seek to ensure that all aspects of food and nutrition at Spring Meadow Primary School promote the health and wellbeing of pupils, staff and visitors to the school, supporting individual needs (cultural, ethical and medical) as appropriate. 

The Governors will ensure the creation of partnerships between staff; pupils, parents and other relevant groups so that all those involved in food at Spring Meadow Primary School have the opportunity to plan, implement, deliver and evaluate all aspects of food and nutrition at school. 

Spring Meadow Primary School is committed to: 

• Strategic planning involving caterers, education, health, parents and pupils. 
• Supporting school-based partnerships through the School Wellbeing group, School Council, the Healthy Schools group or other alternatives. 
• The Policy takes full account of the Government Nutritional-based Standards for school lunches that had to be in place by September 2009 for Secondary Schools and September 2008 for Primary Schools and the Government school food regulations. 

Responsibility for meeting these regulations lies with the School’s governing body. Mrs Claire Pallett, Deputy Headteacher, has the overall responsibility for the implementation of the School Catering Policy. 

The school is fully committed to ensuring that all pupils stay safe, adopt healthy lifestyles and enjoy and achieve in their education. The school acknowledges that parents are the prime educators of their children and have the main responsibility for their diet. However, the school actively supports healthy eating and drinking throughout the school day, and ensures that all aspects of food and nutrition in school promote the health and well-being of pupils, staff and visitors to the school. A good diet is important for good health. A healthy and varied diet can help maintain a healthy body weight, enhance general well-being and reduce the number of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis and poor oral health. Healthy eating also promotes achievement. In this context, the school’s commitment to healthy food is essential for the school to meet its overall goals and ensure the health and well-being of its students. 

1. Curricular and Extra Curricular Activity

The school aims to establish clear links between what is being taught in the curriculum and what is offered for consumption to pupils in school. The school must provide consistent messages to pupils, at the same time as creating an interest in food and nutrition. 

Spring Meadow Primary School is committed to: 

• An age appropriate planned curriculum which ensures that information relating to food and nutrition in different lesson areas is consistent and provides opportunities to learn about different food types in the context of a balanced diet. There will be learning opportunities in how to plan, budget, prepare and cook meals understanding the need to avoid the consumption of foods high in salt, sugar and fat and the increase the need for consumption of fruit and vegetables 

• The development of appropriate new curricular materials, as required 

• Training for all staff on the school’s food agenda, school food regulations and up to date healthy eating messages Termly clubs also support the teaching of food and healthy eating and include insert clubs e.g. cooking or food growing Staff delivering cooking sessions and clubs have received appropriate CPD and achieved Level 1/2 in Food Safety and Hygiene. 

1. Food Throughout the School 

School catering is served from the “Munchy, Crunchy” onsite catering facility.  The Catering Team welcomes all children into the hall to eat. The children are served their meal on a tray and use cutlery, plates and cups and drink via self-service jugs of water and milk on each table.

Breakfast Club

Breakfast is an important meal that should provide 25% of a child’s energy requirement and support pupils to be ready to learn at the start of each day. The school runs a daily breakfast club for pupils from between 7.30am and 8.45am. The breakfast menu is attached (Appendix A).  The breakfast club menu is also available on the school website.

Breakfast Club is charged at £3.50 per pupil, per day. 

Snacks 

Early Years and KS1 snacks are provided during the morning and include: fresh fruit and vegetables.  Pupils are able to bring a healthy snack into school to eat at break-times. 

School trips 

A packed lunch will be provided by the school, for all children who usually have a free school meal. Pupils are welcome to bring their own packed lunches on trips, however, these lunches must adhere to the same food and drink guidance described above. 

School Meals 

School meals should be nutritious, varied and appeal to students. For a significant proportion of pupils, school lunch may be the only freshly cooked meal of the day. School meals should help create an interest in food by offering pupils a range of new food experiences. School meals should also provide an opportunity for the development of social skills.

The pupils are welcomed into the hall by the Catering Team. The children are served their meal on a tray and use cutlery, plates and cups and drink via self-service jugs of water and milk on each table, and are able to enjoy their meal in a sociable and friendly atmosphere.  Those pupils preferring a packed lunch are also welcome to enjoy the facilities.

Spring Meadow hosts a 3-week rolling balanced menu of hot and cold healthy food options, which has been chosen by the pupils following a range of taster days (Appendix B).

Spring Meadow Primary School is committed to: 

• Ensuring a school lunch service that meets or exceeds current Government Nutritional standards 
• Ensuring a welcoming eating environment that encourages the positive social interaction of students. This includes the display and labelling of food, promoting healthy eating, and making adequate time available for students to eat their food. 
• Improving the food preparation facilities. 
• Ensuring there is easy access to free, clean and palatable drinking water in school. 
• Providing opportunities to enable pupils to learn about how to grow fresh fruit and vegetables. 
• Providing parents with information about healthy eating, issues around obesity and poor dental health 
• Encouraging all pupils to eat a healthy balanced diet and to understand the importance of diet to health, academic performance and well-being. 
• Encouraging all pupils to minimise the amount of food waste.
• Sourcing local meat, fruit and vegetables from local suppliers.

Pupils in Foundation Stage, Year 1 and Year 2 are eligible for a Free School Meal.  School meals for pupils in Year 3 to Year 6 are charged at £2 per day unless they qualify for Universal Free School Meals.  Further details on how to apply for Universal Free School Meals can be obtained from the School Office.  All school meals should be paid for in advance either via SIMs Pay or cash/cheque in the school office.

All meals should be ordered by 11am, or in advance if your child should be arriving late for any reason.

Meal payments and arrears

Payment for Breakfast Club and School Dinners should be made in advance, or on the day of ordering.  

Payments can be made by cash in the school office, cheque or online via SIMs Pay 360.

Should payment not be made on the day, the School Office will contact the parent/carer to request 

payment.  After a week of non-payment, all arrears will be referred to the Headteacher and the school’s Inclusion Team.

Special dietary requirements 

The school does everything possible to accommodate pupils’ specialist dietary requirements including allergies, intolerances, religious or cultural practices. Individual care plans are created for pupils with food allergies and the lead member of staff for this is Mrs Emma Donegan, SENCo. Pupil’s food allergies are displayed in a sensitive way insert how in relevant places around the school including insert where. 

Packed Lunches 

The Governors recognise that choice is a key element of healthy eating and the school’s role is in educating pupils to make informed choices about healthy eating. Some pupils may choose to bring a packed lunch to school. Parents are responsible for the provision of packed lunches for their children. Information is available at parents’ evenings or on request from the School Catering Manager. 

Packed lunches should aim to include: 

• Some starchy foods such as bread (sliced bread, pitta bread, wraps, bagels), pasta, potatoes, couscous; choose wholegrain where possible 
• 1 portion of fruit and 1 portion of vegetables or salad 
• Dairy food such as cheese or yoghurt 
• Meat, fish, or another source of protein such as eggs, beans and pulses, hummus, falafel 
• Oily fish once every 3 weeks e.g. sardines or salmon 

Packed lunches should not include: 

• Crisps or crisp type snacks e.g. flavoured rice cakes or cheddars 
• Processed foods such as sausage rolls, high calorie pies etc 
• Sweets 
• Any items containing chocolate including bars, biscuits, cakes or yoghurts/desserts 
• The school provides water for all pupils at lunchtime; therefore there is no need for packed lunches to include a drink. 

Spring Meadow Primary School is committed to: 

• Ensuring that pupils can purchase a healthy packed lunch in school (delete if not applicable) 
• Ensuring that pupils choosing to have a packed lunch are provided with a suitable eating environment conducive to social interaction and enjoyment of the mealtime experience 
• Pupils choosing to have a packed lunch will have free access to fresh chilled water 

Water 

Research has shown the value to pupils of gaining regular access to fresh, chilled drinking water throughout the school day. Intake of water is linked to good health, better concentration and increased attainment. The school is a water only school, with the exception of the free milk entitlement for all primary free school meal pupils. Water is provided from the water dispensers located around the school, and via self-service jugs at breakfast and lunchtimes.

1. Wider Commitments

Rewards and special occasions 

It is recognised that many activities take place in schools but outside the conventional school day. These activities are aimed at both school pupils and the wider community. Some of the activities are organised by the school itself but others through independent groups based in the local community. It is vital that the school gives a consistent message to children and the community at large and that all aspects of the school’s activities reinforce key healthy eating messages.

Spring Meadow Primary School is committed to: 

• Requiring, where possible, that all after school activities follow the principles of healthy eating. 

Partnership with Parents and Wider Community 

Parents need to be aware of the School Catering Policy and how they can support it in other areas of their children’s lives. A successful whole school catering policy can and will impact on the wider community. 

Spring Meadow Primary School is committed to: 

• Developing stronger partnerships between parents, the school and catering staff. 
• Communicating with parents on all aspects of food in school including information and advice on healthy packed lunches and snacks, oral health and the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight. 
• Developing dialogue with food suppliers to look at ways in which healthy eating activities initiated by the school can be maintained

1. Expectations of staff and visitors 

The school expects staff to contribute to and support this catering policy across the school day. Staff and visitors will be expected to model good practice behaviour around food and drink and in line with the policy, when in the company of pupils. Staff are welcome to purchase breakfast at the school breakfast club and are encouraged to eat this with the pupils. Teaching staff are also encouraged to eat a school lunch and sit with pupils in the dining hall.  

1. Rewards and Special Occasions

The school does not allow food to be used as a reward for good behaviour or achievement.  We do however host a “Hot Chocolate Friday” each week for children identified as going above and beyond, to celebrate their achievements.

1. Celebrations 

The school recognises the importance of celebrating birthdays and special occasions. For birthday celebrations, we welcome any parents who would like to send in fruit for their child to share with the class. We discourage chocolates, sweets and cakes for birthdays. 

For celebration events, we welcome a variety of healthy foods, from different cultures, for children to try. Class teachers will provide parents/carers with suggestion lists of celebration food to ensure that we have a wide variety of food choices available. 

Occasional fund-raising events may include the sale of treat food such as cakes, but the inclusion of other foods will also be encouraged.

1. Monitoring and Evaluation 

It is important to monitor progress and evaluate outcomes against this policy. 

Spring Meadow Primary School is committed to: 

• Developing monitoring and evaluation systems, which record levels of uptake in school meals and free school meals
• Seeking and using feedback from pupils, parents and staff
• Seeking and using feedback from catering staff 
• Increasing range of healthy options in line with school food regulations.

APPENDIX A 

Our Munchy, Crunchy Breakfast Menu

APPENDIX B                        

Appendix A

Our Munchy, Crunchy Breakfast Menu

Reviewed: Autumn 2023

Next Review: Autumn 2025