School Meals
All food in schools must meet nutritional standards so that children have healthy, balanced diets. This means there must be:
- High-quality meat, poultry or oily fish
- At least 2 portions of fruit and vegetables with every meal
- Bread, other cereals and potatoes
There can’t be:
- Fizzy drinks, crisps, chocolate or sweets in school meals and vending machines
- More than 2 portions of deep-fried food a week
The school meals service in school is provided through Shire Services who provides ‘a sensible approach to nutrition, and a vision for food and healthy eating in school’. The service is able to offer a meal to meet the needs of most students, including the mashing or pureeing of food for those who need it.
The cost of a school dinner is £2.50 (£12.50 per week). If you would like your child to have a school dinner please download the School Gateway app and sign up using the telephone number and email address that the school holds on the system. From there, you will be able to pay for your child's school dinners electronically.
Free School Meals
Many families in Sandwell could get free school meals but don’t claim for them.
Your child may be entitled to free school meals if:
- Your annual income is less than £16,190; and
- You claim Child Tax Credit
Your child may also qualify for free school meals if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
- Income Support
- Guaranteed Pension Credit (including Child Tax Credit)
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Support from the National Asylum Support Service
Your child will not qualify for free school meals if you claim Working Tax Credit. The easiest way to apply for free school meals is to make an enquiry with us.
Please click HERE for Sandwell Council’s Free School Meals eligibility check.
