School meals
School meals and packed lunches
Free school meals are now provided free of charge in all State Primary Schools due to the Mayor of London's funding. This emergency scheme launched in 2023 to help families with the cost of living crisis.
If you want more information please click the link below
https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-mayor-does/priorities-london/free-school-meals
Choosing your child/s meal
At Woodlands we use ISS Facility Services Education to prepare our school meals.
There are vegetarian and halal option every day. Any child that has any intolerance, allergy or medical condition will have a special menu.
The menu that the children choose from rotates every 3 weeks.
Each morning when the children come into school they select what they want for lunch. School staff will support any child where needed.
If you would like to pre-order your meal, you need to create an account and then use this to choose your child/s meal.
You can sign up via this website
https://parents.feedinghungryminds.co.uk/login
If you have any further questions about your child/s lunches, please speak to Mrs O'Callaghan in the school office.
Free School Meals
Qualifying benefits for free school meals
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190) - Working Tax Credit is a disqualifying benefit regardless of your household income - this means that you would not be entitled to Free School Meals whilst in receipt of Working Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- 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)
If you think you are eligible for free school meals, even if you don’t want your child to eat school meals, please call the office for more information or apply to the local authority via the link below. Every child who is eligible generates valuable income for the school
Packed lunches
At Woodlands, we teach the children the benefits of having a healthy & active lifestyle- which includes eating a healthy lunch.
The contents of the children’s packed lunches is really important to ensuring they have a good diet and help them lead healthier lifestyles.
Here are some tips to help you get started…..
Healthy Eating: Small Changes can make a Big Difference!
- Make one change at a time.
- Always include a starchy food such as bread, pasta or rice, in each meal.
- Peel or chop fruit and vegetables and put them in a small pot or bag to increase the chances of your child eating them.
- If your child likes sweet foods, swap a chocolate bar for raisins or grapes. If they prefer savoury foods, swap the crisps and give them crunchy carrot sticks or plain popcorn.
Swap sugary squash and juice drinks for water or milk. Do not send juice into school with your child’s packed lunch – water only!
Swap processed cheese for real cheeses like Edam or cheddar.
For health and safety reasons, glass items, fizzy drinks or products which contain nuts are NOT allowed. Lunch boxes should not contain sweets, chocolate, cake or crisps.
Here are some links to useful information about packed lunches, click on the icons below.
