Information from Mrs Driver – Lunches

I am sure you are all aware that we are now serving a free school lunch to all key stage 1 pupils as well as a paid for meal to the majority of key stage 2 pupils. This has not been the headache for us that it has for other schools because the majority of our pupils have always had school lunches and we have only increased our numbers slightly. Our lunches are provided by Herts Catering Ltd. and we are very fortunate to have the meals cooked on site by our wonderful school cooks.

We do have a small number of pupils who bring a packed lunch to school and we have been asked to share the following guidance on the contents of packed lunches:

The UK government has produced suggested guidance for packed lunches to ensure that all children benefit from eating quality food during the school day.

The guidelines are:

  1. One portion of fruit and one portion of vegetable or salad every day to be included in packed lunches
  2. Meat, fish or another source of non-dairy protein should be included every day. Non dairy sources of protein include lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas, hummus and falafel
  3. An oily fish, such as salmon, should be included at least once every three weeks
  4. A starchy food, such as bread or pasta, rice, couscous, noodles, potatoes or other cereals, should be included every day
  5. A dairy food, such as semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, cheese, yoghurt, fromage frais or custard should be included every day
  6. Free, fresh drinking water should be available at all times
  7. Snacks such as crisps should not be included. Instead, include seeds, vegetables and fruit (with no added salt, sugar or fat). Savoury crackers or breadsticks served with fruit, vegetables or dairy food are also a good choice
  8. Confectionery such as chocolate bars, chocolate-coated biscuits and sweets should not be included. Cakes and biscuits are allowed but these should be part of a balanced meal
  9. Meat products such as sausage rolls, individual pies, corned meat and sausages / chipolatas should be included only occasionally 

Our school policy on packed lunches follows this guidance and we would ask that you ensure all pupils with packed lunches have a healthy, balanced meal. We do recognise that going on a trip with a packed lunch is a treat and therefore the rules can be relaxed a little. However, please do not send too much food on a school trip! This is also an ideal time to remind you that we are a nut free environment and no products containing nuts must be brought into school.

You will have seen on the School Website that we are setting up the Schools Fantasy Football League again. This is great fun for those involved and costs nothing! Registration details are all on the website.

Finally, a plea for you to keep your children with you at the end of the day. There is no school supervision after 3.20pm and therefore children should not be standing or running on benches, playing on the climbing apparatus or jumping off the walls.

Yours sincerely
Mary Driver