School Meals
We are proud to work with Chartwells for your children’s school dinners.
Chartwells believe that the key to fuelling young minds comes from understanding both what they need and what they enjoy, which is why they develop nutritious and delicious food that pupils love, alongside helping to ensure a healthy body and mind.
Their passionate culinary experts work closely with us to ensure every child receives healthy food, perfectly suited to meet their needs and dietary requirements.
The current meal price is £2.95
Children in Reception, Year 1, & Year 2 receive free school meals
Our menu follows a 3-week rotation, with each week’s dates listed on the menu.
By default, every child receives the main meal option each day. If you'd prefer an alternative meal (e.g., jacket potato, pasta, sandwiches), please email the school kitchen by 8:30am on the day.
For children with food intolerances and allergies, Chartwells have a dedicated team of medical diet nutritionists on hand to support allergen aware children and their parents. More information on their medical diet process can be found here: The Chartwells Approach to Medical Diets | Chartwells
Parents and guardians can contact the medical diet nutrition team directly on: chartwells.medicaldiets@compass-group.co.uk.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve provided more details below. If you need more help, feel free to contact the school office.
How much do school meals cost?
School dinners cost £2.95 per meal for most children.
- Free meals for Reception, Year 1, and Year 2: All children in these year groups receive free school meals.
- Free meals for Years 3 and above: Some children in Years 3 and up may also qualify for free school meals based on family circumstances. We encourage all parents to check if their child is eligible, even if they’re already in Reception, Year 1, or Year 2.
How do I order and pay for school meals?
- All meals should be paid for in advance through ParentPay.
- All children, including those eligible for free meals in Years R, 1, and 2, must still register on ParentPay.
- Please contact the office if you require help with your ParentPay account details.
How can I find out if my child is eligible for Free School Meals?
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
- Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
- 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 guarantee 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 four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
You can check your eligibility and apply on the Kent County Council website. If approved, the school will be notified, and your child will start receiving free school meals within 24 hours.
Children in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 automatically receive free school meals each day. However, if you receive any of the above benefits, applying for free school meals could provide extra funding to support your child’s learning—so please check and apply online!
What if my child has an allergy or special diet?
If your child has a medically diagnosed dietary requirement (such as diagnosed food allergies, intolerances or metabolic disorders) they may need a specialised meal plan.
Chartwells offer two options for children with dietary needs:
- Allergy Aware Menu: A reduced allergen menu that excludes the 14 major allergens, allowing children with common allergies to enjoy safe, similar meals alongside their classmates.
- Bespoke Menu: For children with complex dietary needs beyond the common allergens, Chartwells creates a customised menu with suitable hot meal options, based on individual risk assessments.
If you would like to apply for a specialised meal plan, please:
- Fill out the Medical Diet Request Form and include a photo of your child along with official medical documentation supporting their dietary needs.
- Bring the completed form and documentation to the school office. The school will forward these to Chartwells’ medical diet team for review.
While your request is being processed (typically 3-5 weeks), your child can either:
- Receive a jacket potato with an approved topping each day and fruit for dessert, or
- Bring a packed lunch from home.
Once approved, your child will receive a lanyard to wear at lunchtime to help staff easily identify their specific dietary needs.
If you have questions, contact the Chartwells medical diet team at chartwells.medicaldiets@compass-group.co.uk.
What about packed lunches?
If your child brings a packed lunch, it should be in a lunch bag or box with their name on it and shouldn’t include fizzy or energy drinks, nuts, or nut-based products.
We are unable to store packed lunch food in a refrigerator so please keep this in mind when choosing what to give your child.
Snacks at breaktime?
We invite all children to bring in a healthy snack for breaktimes and fruit is ideal for this.
The children in KS1 (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) are provided with fruit daily and this can range from apples, tomatoes, raisins, etc., but you are also welcome to bring in your own if your child likes something in particular.
