School meals

School lunches at our school are provided by HCL | School Catering (Herts Catering Limited) who are an award-winning specialist caterer with a foundation in the education sector. They are passionate about providing fresh, local and seasonal food; improving the school meals’ service, and making lunchtime an integral part of the whole school experience. HCL endeavour to provide dishes that are not only popular with children, but also comply with and promote healthy eating standards and guidelines. Eating the right balance of healthy, tasty food, helps all children to learn and develop. That’s why making the right decision about what your child eats at school is so important.

School meals currently cost £3.70 per day. All school meals must be ordered in advance either weekly, monthly or termly. Orders to be made via School Gateway. Meals must be ordered before 9am on the day.

School Gateway how to access

School Gateway how to order school meals

Free School Meals

Free school meals must be authorised by Herts County Council before they can be given to a child at school. Meals must be paid for until the entitlement has been approved.  If the meals are back-dated, refunds will then be issued. If you think you may be entitled to Free School Meals, an application must be made either on line at www.hertsdirect.org/freeschoolmeals or by telephone to Customer Service Centre on 0300 123 4048.

It is important that you make HCL (Herts Catering Ltd our school meal provider) aware of any allergies your child has been medically diagnosed with. To do this please visit the HCL website or follow this link: https://specialmenu.hcl.co.uk/

Snacks and Lunches

Children in KS1 (Rec-Year 2) are entitled to Universal Free School Meals. Children in KS2 (Y3-6) who would like school lunch will need to order and pay for lunches (unless entitled to Free School Meals) via School Gateway.

For children who choose to have a packed lunch, please ensure it contains a healthy balance, with no fizzy drinks or chocolate bars.

Good examples of a healthy packed lunch:

- Sandwich or salad
- Fruit
- Crackers or rice cakes
- Vegetables like carrot sticks, little tomatoes, sugar snap peas, cucumber
- Yoghurt

For more packed lunch ideas from the NHS visit:

NHS Healthier Lunchbox Recipes

Children in KS1 have a snack provided for them at break times (fruit). Children in Key Stage 2 are allowed to bring in a snack from home – this must be a healthy snack (plain biscuit, fruit, yoghurt, cheese etc.)

Crisps and chocolate are not allowed as a snack or in a child's packed lunch. Please be aware that we are A NUT FREE SCHOOL. Peanut butter or Nutella is not allowed in packed lunches etc.

School Milk

School milk is free to children under five and for those children authorised as free school meals.  If your child has their fifth birthday during the term, the cost of school milk for Autumn term will be £20.90.  Payment to be made directly via DairyLink UK Ltd.