School meals cost £2.10 per day (£10.50 per week)
Meals are prepared and cooked on the premises and offer a choice from 3 main courses and 3 desserts per day. Each meal is developed to ensure the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables is available while avoiding confectionery and artificially-sweetened drinks, with limits on the fat, salt and sugar content in each meal.
Although technically employed by the school meals contractor, Taylor Shaw, our school lunch staff are a key part of our school team. Mrs Harrison is the Unit Manager, whilst Mrs Spender and Mrs Croft provide assistance.
We have 6 Lunchtime Supervisors – Mrs Griffiths, Mrs Brown, Mrs Flatman, Mr Wilson, Mrs Wilson and Ms Stanworth.
From September 2014 if your child or children attends an infant school or infant classes from reception to Year 2 then school meals will be free to them. The success of the Free School Meal pilot in Durham has influenced a Government policy decision to make funds available to ensure that all infant children can access a free school meal.
Paid School Meals
To ensure sufficient school lunches are provided and to avoid confusion meal payments should be paid in full on the first day of each week, which is usually Monday. Please ensure that money is sent to school in an envelope, clearly marked with amount enclosed, and the child’s name and class. Payments can be made by cheque. Cheques must be made payable to “Durham County Council” and the payee’s full name and address must also be written on the back.
It is essential that parent’s notify the school office of any changes to their child’s normal lunch time arrangements.
Free School Meals
The regulations for Free School Meals are changing on the 1st April 2018. If you claim any of the following benefits you may be eligible to claim a Free School Meal:
- Universal Credit with an earnings threshold that does not exceed £7,400
- Income Support
- Income Based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax
- Credit and have an annual income, as assessed by HMRC that does not exceed £16,190
- Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit Where a parent is entitled to Working Tax Credit run-on (the payment someone receives for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit).
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
Though some children prefer to bring in a ‘packed lunch’, it is important that all those entitled to a free school meal are registered.
Please note: It is the parents/carers responsibility to inform school if there are changes to your claim.
Special Dietary Needs
Any request for a special or modified diet to be provided for a child must be made in writing by the parent/guardian. This should contain as much detail as possible, including contact details.
If the diet is medically related e.g. allergy, diabetic, low fat etc. the request must be verified by the child’s General Practitioner or Hospital Dietician.
The provision of a nut allergy diet will also require further correspondence, which will be sent out from the School Meals Section. This includes a letter of authorisation for parents to complete and return and a letter to the Head Teacher.
N.B.
A medically related diet will not be provided until written confirmation from the GP or Dietician is received.
If the diet is non medical e.g. religious the request does not require authorisation from a GP or Dietician but must still go through the special diet procedures.
Vegetarian requests do not need to be processed as a special diet as a vegetarian choice is always available.
Once school has received the request from parents/guardians/carers it will be forwarded to:
School Meals Section
Corporate Services
Room 2/70,
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UL
School Meals Section will forward the details to schools Catering Contractor who will liaise with the school, the catering team and parents to ensure that the correct diet is put in place.
If your child moves to another school any special diet information should be forwarded on to the new school as well as informing the school meals section at County Hall at the above address.
School Lunch Menu
The lunch menus are now to view or download by selecting the links below:
Taylor Shaw Menu Week 1
Taylor Shaw Menu Week 2
Taylor Shaw Menu Week 3
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