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School Meals
Caterlink are committed to giving pupils / students the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from a nutritious lunch. They pride themselves in using fresh local produce, with all our food being cooked and prepared fresh on-site where possible.
Menus
A three-week menu cycle will be changed seasonally. The Development Chef consults with the school and Council. They ensure red meat is available at least twice a week and fish at least once a week which will include an oily fish. Vegetarian protein options will include beans and pulses and there will always be a choice of two breads/cereals or potato choices. Wherever possible, sauces and dressings are made with low fat ingredients and cooking oil and salt is used to a minimum. Alternative low-fat fillings will be available for sandwiches and jacket potatoes, low fat yoghurt and desserts will be on offer and skimmed milk is available for cereals.
Freshly cut fruit and low-fat fruit yoghurt will be available everyday as an alternative to the daily homemade dessert. A treat once in a while on a Friday helps to add a bit of fun into school meals for pupils. Having said this, a bowl of cherries or strawberries arranged nicely can appeal to the younger children as a treat. This will always be on offer as an alternative.
Caterlink ensure meals appeal to a wide range of ethnic backgrounds and tastes. They are also aware that some pupils have special dietary requirements, such as those who are vegetarians or those who have religious dietary requirements. Some pupils have special needs and some have emotional and behavioural problems which the team will be advised of. If your child has special meal requirements, please contact us and arrangements can be made to discuss this.
The primary objective for catering within Sutton Council is to provide pupils, staff and visitors with a choice of homemade, nutritious and well-balanced meals. Menus will reflect the requirements and tastes of pupils and staff and will be continually monitored to ensure the menu choices encourage the highest levels of uptake.
School meals are currently free for all pupils.
Free Schools Meals and Pupil Premium Entitlement
The Government has introduced the Universal Free School Meals initiative, which means that all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 at state schools in England automatically get free school meals.
If you have a child in Years 3 – 6, you may be eligible to receive free school meals if you have responsibility for a child who attends Rushy Meadow Primary Academy and you are in receipt of one of the following qualifying benefits:
- Income Support
- Job Seeker’s Allowance (income-based)
- Employment Support Allowance (income-related)
- Child Tax Credit, so long as you do not get Working Tax Credit and your family’s annual income (as assessed by the Inland Revenue) is not more than £16,190.
- Anyone receiving Working Tax Credit is not entitled to free school meals regardless of their income.
- You get support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- You receive the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit.
Please ask at the office for further information.
Packed Lunch Guidelines
Rushy Meadow Primary Academy recognises the benefits of a well-balanced hot school meal for children in the middle of the day and would recommend this to parents and carers as the best option. However, should parents decide to send in a packed lunch from home, then following recommended guidelines set out by the British Nutrition Foundation should provide useful advice.
We have put together a useful guide to packed lunches which you can view here.
Please also follow the links below for general advice about Healthy Eating and Healthy Living