School Dinners and Menu
What do the children eat at lunchtime?
The children can either have school dinners, a packed lunch from home or go home for lunch.
School dinners
Our school kitchen provides a range of healthy hot meals for pupils to enjoy, including vegetarian options, provided by Thurrock Catering Services who have been awarded the Gold Food for Life Standard.
The menu is on a three-week rota, but is subject to change to allow for theme days and local preferences. We now have a system where chidren can choose their meal each day. They receive a coloured wrist band, which means they receive the meal of their choice.
![Thurrock Menu 6pp Final[1] Oct 2017 to Apr 2018](https://bonnygateprimary.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Thurrock_Menu_6pp_Final1_Oct_2017_to_Apr_2018-thumb.png "Thurrock Menu 6pp Final[1] Oct 2017 to Apr 2018")
Food for Life Standard
Bronze
- Meals contain no undesirable food additives or hydrogenated fats
- 75% of dishes are freshly prepared
- Meat is from farms which satisfy UK welfare standards
- Eggs are from cage-free hens
- Menus are seasonal
- Training is provided for all catering staff
- No GM ingredients are used
Silver (in addition to Bronze criteria)
- A range of local, organic and fair trade produce is served
- Chicken, eggs and pork products are from sources which meet high welfare standards or 10% of food is organic
- No fish is served from the Marine Conservation Society ‘fish to avoid’ list
- Information about where the food has come from is on display
Gold (in addition to Bronze and Silver criteria)
- At least 30% of ingredients are organic or Marine Stewardship Council certified
- At least 50% of ingredients are locally sourced
- Organic meat, dairy products or eggs are served as the highest welfare standard
- Non-meat dishes are being promoted as part of a balanced, climate-friendly diet
Payment for school dinners
School dinners cost £2.72 (November 2019) a day and payment must be made via ParentMail prior to the day.
Children in early years and KS1 are eligible for free school meals as of September 2014.
It’s important to still apply for free school meals as any child registered for Free school meals may get other help too:
- For every child registered, the school will get a “Pupil Premium” This means the school gets £1300 per year for each child registered. This money is to help your child achieve their best at school.
Some families may be entitled to free school meals. You could be entitled to free school meals if you receive:
- Income support
- Income-based job seekers allowance
- Child Tax Credit (income under £16,190)
- Guaranteed part of Pension Credit
- Income related employment and support allowance
- Support under part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Working tax credit is not an entitlement to free school meals.
If you would like to apply for free school meals for your child please print and complete the application form, and bring it to the school office.
Anyone can fall on difficult times and Bonnygate is pleased to be a voucher giver for Thurrock Foodbank. Come and talk to us, in confidence, if you need some short-term help.
Packed Lunch
Pupils who have packed lunches should bring their food in a small lunch box. This must be labelled with their name and class. Drinks are allowed in unbreakable flasks or in plastic bottles or packets, but no glass containers. Drinking water is always available free of charge.
The children are asked to bring in a healthy packed lunch which should include:
- A good portion of starchy food, e.g. wholegrain roll, tortilla wraps, chipatta, pitta pocket, pasta or rice salad
- A portion of lean meat, fish or alternative, e.g. chicken, ham, beef, tuna, egg, beans or hummus
- Plenty of fruit and vegetables, e.g. and apple, Satsuma, handful of cherry tomatoes or carrot sticks, small tub of fruit salad or small box of raisins
- A portion of semi-skimmed milk or other dairy food, e.g. reduced fat cheese, yoghurt or fromage frais
- A drink, e.g fruit juice, semi-skimmed milk, yoghurt drink or bottle of water
A healthy lunch does not mean giving up all the foods that children enjoy. One treat in a packed lunch will be ok, e.g. a small packet of low fat or baked crisps, a chocolate biscuit or a piece of cake.
Going Home
Pupils must be collected from the main reception and signed out at 11:45am for EYFS, 12.00pm for KS1 and 12.10pm for KS2. They should not return to the School until 12:45pm for EYFS, 12:50pm for KS1 and 1pm for KS2. Please bring them back to the main reception and sign them in.
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