School Meals
There are generally two options: either a school lunch cooked in our kitchen or a packed lunch brought from home. All children eat lunch in the dining room or, when the weather is fine, at picnic benches arranged on the field. There are supervisors in the dining room at lunch time to assist the children and ensure that they are getting enough to eat.
1) School lunch
At the beginning to each half term weekly menus are provided so you and your child can see what is coming up.
The menu for this half term can be found below.
New Menu - Autumn Term 2 2023 w/c 30th October
We cater for pupils with allergies and dietary requirements. Please inform the school if your child has specific dietary needs.
All pupils in Reception and KS1 are entitled to a universal free school meal every day. For pupils in KS2 the cost of a school meal is £2.50 per day and these should be paid for in advance weekly, half-termly or termly. They can be paid for through our online payment system, Pay360 (https://www.pay360educationpayments.com/Home). Passwords for Pay360 can be generated by contacting the school office (office@queenedith.cambs.sch.uk). If you are unable to use the online payment system, you can also pay by cash (in an envelope with your child’s name and class) or by cheque (payable to Queens’ Federation). On the last day of term you will be sent a statement which will show any credit your child may have accrued due to absences etc. This credit will normally be carried forward to the next term and can be deducted from the next payment. Should you wish to have a cash refund, please ask the school office.
Families previously entitled to free school meals no longer need to fill out the local authority form. The Department for Education has produced this form with the recommendation that all families are asked to complete it. Forms are also available from the school office and enquiries will be treated in confidence.
While all families with children in Reception to Year 2 are entitled to a free school meal some families are also eligible for Pupil Premium funding. The additional funding is dependent on family income and can be used to provide extra opportunities and activities for those children who trigger the substantial additional funding.
2) Packed lunch from home
Packed lunches with still drinks in unbreakable containers may be brought from home. Please ensure that lunch boxes are named. We do not allow sweets or nuts to be included as part of a packed lunch.
We have several pupils who are allergic to nuts and it is essential that no nuts, peanut butter, chocolate spread, or other foods containing traces of nuts are brought into school.
Snack time
Children in the Foundation Stage and KS 1 are provided with fruit every day as part of the National Fruit Scheme. In KS2 children may bring in a fruit snack from home to have at morning playtime.
Drinks
Research shows that our brains need water to stay active and alert! All children are encouraged to bring water (not squash or juice) into school daily, in a spill-proof, unbreakable plastic bottle that they can take home at night to rinse and refill. Please name water bottles. So children can re-fill their water bottles, we have drinking water taps conveniently placed around the school at Queen Edith.