School Meals
Ditton Primary Academy School recognises that eating in school should be a pleasurable experience which helps children to develop health eating habits. A child's lunch must provide them with the energy and nutrients they need to get the most from their school day.
PACKED LUNCH
If you opt to provide a packed lunch for your child, we do encourage you to make healthy choices when preparing this.
As a general principle, we promote healthy, balanced packed lunches. They should consist of:
- Fruit and vegetables
- Unrefined starchy food - for example multigrain bread, pasta or rice
- Sources of protein - meat, fish, eggs, beans etc.
- Milk or other dairy foods - i.e. cheese
- A small amount of fat, sugar and salt
- Water, milk or juice
Also, please be mindful of the materials in your child's lunch box. Try to limit the amount of single use plastic and talk to your child about recyclable materials and what they should return home with - i.e. drink bottles and containers.
Please be aware that we are a NUT FREE school. We have children at school who have very severe nut allergies and would require medical assistance if they came into contact with any nuts. Therefore, please ensure your child's snack/packed lunch do not contain any nuts and check ingredients if you are not sure.
School Meals
This term's menu can be downloaded below.
Free School Meals
Whilst all children in Reception Class, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to receive a free school meal under the Universal Free School Meal entitlement, parents/carers are strongly encouraged to also complete a free school meal application form as each child eligible for a Free School Meal based upon parent/carer income attracts a “Pupil Premium” for the School which is provided by Central Government and equates to a cash amount for your child’s School. This is then used to support children’s education through the provision of additional teachers, Teaching Assistant support and resources at the School.
If you have any queries, please contact the School Office. The office staff will be happy to discuss Pupil Premium with you and can help you complete an application form for Free School Meals.
If you get any of the following support payments your child may be entitled to receive free school meals.
- 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
When you complete a Housing/Council Tax Benefit form, and meet the correct eligibility criteria, this automatically entitles your child(ren) to free school meals. Schools will be directly advised of this eligibility and your child(ren) will remain eligible for the period you are in receipt of the qualifying benefit.
For a small number of parents in receipt of Child Tax Credit, they will be required to complete a free schools meal application form..
Please download the form and apply if you think your child may be entitled to Free School Meals, even if they usually have a Packed Lunch.