At Methley, we aim for all children to have a healthy, balanced diet. We know that a healthy diet helps children to be better learners. At school, children learn about food, healthy diets and how to cook through our curriculum.
School Meals
Tasty cooked meals are freshly prepared daily in our kitchen using good quality produce. Children are offered a choice of main courses and desserts. Salads and fruit are always available.
Menus meet the Government guidelines for school meals. All medical and religious diets can be catered for.
We operate a ‘Band’ system where children pre-order the main dish and dessert they prefer from a choice of three. This enables all the children to have the dish they prefer as well as cutting down on wasted food. We encourage parents to support their children in making a good lunch choice.
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a free school meal. The cost of a meal in Years 3 to 6 is £2.40.
Packed Lunches
Alternatively, children may bring a packed lunch. This should be in a secure named container. Please read our Packed Lunch Policy to know what can be included in your child’s packed lunch.
Free School Meals
Free school meals are available to some children according to family income. Leeds Revenues and Benefits Service states that children are entitled to Free School Meals if their parents, carers or guardians receive:
- 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)
You do not have to be unemployed to qualify; students and people working less than 16 hours a week can also claim if they get any of these benefits themselves.
To find out if your child qualifies for free school meals, you should:
- Call Leeds Benefit helpline (0113 2224404) or
- Call HMRC Tax Credit helpline (0845 300 3900) or visit their website; or
- Contact Turn2Us – a charitable service that helps people access the money available to them – through welfare benefits, grants and other help.
Milk
For any child in school, a small carton of milk can be bought in advance. Children who have milk usually drink it just before or after their morning playtime.
Fruit
The Government School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme is part of the 5 A DAY programme to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. All four to six year old children in LEA maintained infant, primary and special schools are entitled to a free piece of fruit or vegetable each school day. Choices include: bananas, pears, satsumas, tomatoes, peas and apples.
Children are welcome to bring in their own snack, our policy is dried or fresh fruit or vegetables only.
