School Meals
Whole School Approach
Ryarsh Primary School recognises the importance of a healthy diet and the significant connection between a healthy diet and a pupil’s ability to learn effectively and achieve high standards at school.
Ryarsh Primary School strives to continually raise awareness of the necessity for healthy eating by all members of the school community.
We aim to provide a service that is consistent with our teaching of healthy eating, thus enabling pupils to put into practice their learning. All food provided to pupils during the school day meets the School Food Standards which became mandatory in all maintained schools, academies and free schools from January 2015. These can be found at: http://www.schoolfoodplan.com/standards/
Lunchtime food provided for pupils and staff in school is provided by Caterlink Catering services. We work closely with them to ensure their services meets the needs of our pupils, requesting changes to menus and service as appropriate.
Further information can be found by reading our whole school food policy:
Packed Lunches
Your child may have a school meal or bring a packed lunch. For safety, lunch containers should be unbreakable with no glass containers. Please ensure you provide your child with a balanced meal to encourage the children to eat healthily. We would ask that you do not include sweets, chocolate or fizzy drinks as these tend to fill the children up without providing much nutritional benefit.
Some ideas for healthy and interesting packed lunches can be found HERE
School Meals
Our school meals are cooked on-site in our modern kitchen. The catering company providing this service is’ Caterlink Ltd’. Information about the company and their service, as well as a copy of the menu for schools, can be found on their website at:
http://www.caterlinkltd.co.uk
The cost of a meal is £2.43, with payment made online.
View our Autumn 2022 menu:
kent medway autumnwinter 2022.pdf
Universal Infant Free School Meals
All infant school pupils (every child in reception, year 1 and year 2) in state funded schools in England are eligible for free school meals.
Free School Meals
To qualify for free school meals, you must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
- 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 guarantee 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 four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
You can check your eligibility and apply online at:
http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals
