School Meals
Please find here all relevant information regarding booking hot school meals, free school meals and packed lunches.
At the bottom you still see an attachment containing the cut of order dates for your information for 24-25
Hot Lunches
Chartwells provides hot school meals for all West Sussex Schools. 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 £3.09
The current three-week menu can be found at the bottom of the page as an attachment.
We urge all parents who are entitled to Pupil Premium School Meals (also known as Benefit based free school meals) to register even if your child does not take up this meal.
How to order: Log on at www.parentpay.com to choose and book your meals. Orders need to be placed by midnight Thursday, ten days ahead of the week required. For example, meals for the week starting Monday 12th would have an order deadline of Thursday 1st.
You will have received an activation letter and temporary password to set up your ParentPay account. If you need this resent, please contact the school office.
To find out more about Chartwells, visit their website or contact the school catering team. Weblink: Primary School Caterers You Can Trust | Chartwells
Chartwells have also have developed an information page dedicated to school lunches in West Sussex, which is available to parents here
Food Intolerances
For children with food intolerances and allergies, Chartwells have a dedicated team of medical diet nutritionists on hand to support allergy-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: westsussexspecialdiets@compass-group.co.uk.
St Mary’s is also a ‘nut-free’ school and we therefore ask that children do not bring in foods that have a high nut content, including peanut butter. We have children within school who have very severe allergies.
Packed Lunches & Snacks
Packed lunches and snacks for morning break should be healthy. Sweets, chocolate and fizzy drinks are therefore not allowed.
Is my child entitled to Free School Meals?
Families who receive certain benefits may be eligible for free school meals. Your child is eligible for free school meals if you're in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400.
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part 6 of the lmmigration and Asylum Act l999
- The guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
- Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual income of no more than £16,190
Registering for free meals could also raise an extra £1,320 for your child's primary school to fund valuable support like extra tuition, additional teaching staff or after-school activities.
Registration is quick and confidential. The Government will give additional funds for every child even if they do not take up the hot meal each day, this additional funding can be spent within school by way of introducing additional support programmes that benefit all of our children.
How to apply:
Apply online via the West Sussex County Council online Free school meals application form.
The online application is the quickest and easiest way to apply and will result in you getting an instant decision.
However, you can also download the form at the bottom of the page. Please don't hesitate to call into the school office if you need any help.
Key Stage 1: Reception, Years 1 and 2
From September 2014 all children in these school year groups have been entitled to receive a Universal Infant Free School Meal (UiFSM). We encourage you to look at the Chartwells menus and share them with your child. Alternatively, you may prefer to provide your child with a packed lunch.