NYES school meals
Our school meals follow a healthy-eating policy, and are produced from fresh, regionally sourced ingredients in our kitchens at both Reeth and Gunnerside. We use:
- fresh meat and poultry sourced from the region that is Red Tractor approved
- free range eggs and sustainably caught fish
- fruit and vegetables sourced regionally where possible using local suppliers
- products free from additives associated with health problems in young children
- fats free from hydrogenated oils
- with menus that are nutritionally balanced
Further information about school meals is available from the North Yorkshire Council website.
Free school meals
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to free school meals under the Universal Infant Free School Meal Scheme. Although this is not means-tested, if you do qualify for any financial support shown below, we encourage you to complete an application as this could enable school to claim the pupil premium funding and provide further support.
If you get certain benefits, your child could also qualify for free school meals during all school years. To qualify you must be receiving:
- 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 (£616.67 per month)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, provided you are also not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual household gross income that does not exceed £16,190 (as assessed by HMRC)
- Working Tax Credit run-on, paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
Please use the link below to access further information from the North Yorkshire Council website.
Payment for school meals
The current price of a meal for children in Year 3 to Year 6 is £2.75 per day. Nursery meals are currently £2.25 per day. The school office administers payments for school meals and staff are always happy to help with any queries. Payment for school meals is required a week in advance. Payments need to be made through our ParentPay electronic payment system.
Packed lunches
Whilst we encourage families to use the school meals service, pupils are welcome to bring a packed lunch from home. Packed lunches can contribute to almost one third of a child’s weekly food intake and therefore need to be balanced and nutritious. We ask that packed lunches brought in from home reflect the standards for school meals and the national guidance on packed lunches from the NHS, the Children’s Food Trust and the British Nutrition Foundation.
Packed lunches should include:
- A starchy food such as bread, wraps, pitta, rice, pasta and potatoes
- Plenty of fruit and / or vegetables. Try to include 2 portions each day
- A non-dairy source of protein from foods like beans, pulses, fish, eggs, or meat
- A dairy food such as milk, cheese, yoghurt , fromage frais or custard
Food that contains a high proportion of sugar, fat or salt should be minimised.
Pupils may like to choose one item form the list below, each day:
- A piece of cake or a small cake
- A packet of crisps
- A biscuit
Packed lunches should not include:
- Chocolate bars
- Cereal bars
- Processed fruit bars
- Sweets
Our school kitchens, in accordance with guidance, chop small round food items including grapes, cherry tomatoes and strawberries into quarters to reduce the risk of choking. We recommend and ask that packed lunches are prepared like this too.
Further information and guidance is available from the following websites:
Midmorning Drinks
Mid-morning drinks are available each day in school for the children. Children aged under 5 receive free milk each day. For older pupils, Year 1 upwards, there is a choice of: Hot chocolate, Milk or Natural Fruit Juice. All drinks cost 30p per day (£1.50 per week). Parents are asked to make payments for drinks through our on-line payment system, ParentPay. There is a £6.00 minimum payment.
Fruit
Children in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 receive a free piece of fruit every day. KS2 pupils are welcome to bring in a healthy snack for midmorning.