Free School Meals: Changes from September 2026

 

From September 2026, the government is expanding eligibility for Free School Meals to include more families receiving Universal Credit.

 

If your child currently receives free school meals, it is critical that you are registered on our online portal to ensure there is no interruption to their provision.

 

Whether your child decides to take these meals or not, the school may also receive additional funding for each eligible student. At a time when school budgets are very tight, this funding makes a real difference to the school – and all the funding is required to be spent on supporting disadvantaged students.

 

We have therefore invested in an online platform to make this process much simpler, and we would be very grateful if you could take two minutes to register.

 

What information do you need?

 

All that you will need is the following:

• Your own name and date of birth

• Contact details

• National Insurance Number (or National Asylum Seekers Number)

• Child's name and date of birth

• School your child is attending/will attend.

 

We would be very grateful if you could fill in your details on this Greenshaw Learning Trust OFSM application form (unless you have already registered), even if you believe you are not entitled to additional funding. The system re-checks details every week, and will automatically update our records if your status changes. Please note that an application must be completed for each child you have in our school.

 

My child currently receives a free school meal, do I need to reapply?

 

To ensure your child’s meal provision continues without interruption, and if you have not registered using the above link, please do so as soon as possible.

 

Sixth Form Students: We are pleased to announce that from September 2026, Sixth Form students will now be eligible for Free School Meals under the new expanded criteria.

 

If you would like help with applying, you are very welcome to come into school and we would be happy to assist you with an application.

 

 

The Menu for the next term can also be found at the bottom of this page.

Please use the online link here to apply for a Free School Meal. Alternatively, come and visit us in the school office if you are yet to sign up for a free school meal for 2025/26

The London Borough of Sutton catering contract is with Caterlink.  Here is some more information about Caterlink from the London Borough of Sutton and this is a direct link to the Caterlink website where you can find more information on allergens.  

Click here for a document explaining “Why Choose a Caterlink School Meal”  put together by Caterlink's Nutrition Team.

The catering staff freshly prepare and cook the meals in our school kitchen.  The meals meet the government's food and nutrient based standards for school meals ensuring that they are low in fat, salt and sugar and high in nutrition.

Each day, the school dinners include a choice of two main meals (one suitable for a vegetarian diet), a jacket potato with filling or a Halal option, a choice of two vegetables, a salad bar, freshly baked bread, a pudding of the day or a choice of fresh fruit, organic yoghurt or cheese and biscuits.  All children are provided with drinking water.

If your child has any food allergies or intolerances, please complete this form and return it to the school office.

Lunch menus

The lunch menus for the Autumn, Spring & Summer Terms can be found at the bottom of this page.

Free School Meals

Here is the information you need to determine whether you might be eligible for free school meals and milk. The application process is handled centrally by the London Borough of Sutton, so the school is not involved in the application or checking process. Please register for free school meals and milk if you are entitled to claim, even if your child doesn't want to have a school dinner or milk at the moment. The school receives funding for each pupil that is registered and this helps us to continue to provide the best possible overall educational experience for your child during his or her time at our school. If you have any queries regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Packed lunches

Packed lunches should be provided in a container with your child's name clearly labelled. No NUTS of any kind (including peanut butter and chocolate spreads) are allowed in school in order to minimise the risk to those children and adults with nut allergies. No chocolate bars, fizzy drinks, glass bottles or sweets are permitted in lunch boxes.  

Fruit and vegetables

Children in EYFS and Key Stage 1 receive free fruit or vegetables each day under the Fruit and Vegetable Scheme. Key Stage 2 children are encouraged to bring in a small piece of fruit to eat at morning break.

Water

Children are encouraged to bring in their own water bottle through the ‘Water is Cool in School’ scheme. Children should only bring still water to drink and bottles with non-spill, sports type caps must be used. Water bottles should be transparent and labelled with your child's name in order to avoid confusion.  

Water fountains will be maintained and are freely available for children to use during break times and lunch times.

Special events

No sweets or cakes are allowed to be brought into school and given out for birthday celebrations to avoid risk to those with allergies. Additionally, children who suffer from allergies may feel excluded if they are unable to have them. It is suggested that children could either bring in fruit to be shared amongst the class or perhaps give a book to the class.

School milk

Free milk is available for all children under 5 and to those who qualify for Free School Meals (not Infant Universal Free School Meals). Milk for those over 5 is chargeable. To register your child for free or paid milk, please ask the school office for a Coolmilk form or go to www.coolmilk.com.