School Meals
School meals are organised by a company called Hertfordshire Catering Limited. Our kitchen staff aim to provide meals that are well balanced and nutritious and children have a choice of meal every day including a roast dinner on Wednesday and a “Fun Friday” which is available to all children. Please see the current Hertfordshire Catering Multi Choice Menu below (please note some choices may vary on certain days - please contact the School Office for more information). Our kitchen staff are able to cater for special diets after successful completion of an online form, please see HCL Online Allergy System information below.
All children in Foundation Stage and KS1 are entitled to a free school meal. KS2 children’s meals are currently charged at £3.30. Dinner money is payable, in advance, via Arbor.
Parents who feel they may qualify for free school meals (e.g. if they are on income support) should inform the School Office and apply here. All enquiries will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.
HCL Online Allergy System
Parents requesting a special menu for medical, cultural or religious reasons are required to register via the HCL Online Allergy System https://specialmenu.hcl.co.uk/.
HCL provide a range of vegetarian dishes daily, so children requiring a vegetarian menu need not apply. However, pupils requiring a vegan, beef or pork free or vegetarian menu which excludes eggs for religious or cultural reasons, will need to apply. Please follow the link above for further information.
Packed Lunch
Children may bring a packed lunch. This should not include chocolate or sweets, nuts or seeds or any products containing nuts and seeds (eg hummus). The packed lunch needs to be kept in a named hard plastic lunch box or similar. Glass bottles should not be brought into school. Fruit drinks, squash, fizzy drinks and smoothies should not be included and water will be available for the children to drink. As Potten End is a “healthy school” we suggest that a packed lunch should consist of a healthy sandwich and fruit. This can be supplemented by the inclusion of either crisps or a biscuit or small cake. Cartons and packets that are difficult for the children to open should not be included in a packed lunch.
Milk
The school uses a school milk scheme provided by Cool Milk. This scheme is available to all of our pupils, regardless of age. Thanks to government subsidies, school milk is free for all under-fives and children receiving or entitled to free school meals. If your child would like school milk, please register at www.coolmilk.com/register. If your child is entitled to free school meals and would like school milk, please speak to the School Office.
By registering your child for our school milk scheme they will receive a carton of semi-skimmed milk every day. Their school milk will not only provide them with essential nutrients, but as it is rehydrating and energy boosting, it also bridges the gap between breakfast and lunch to help children stay focused.
Snacks
At break times, the children can eat a healthy snack. Children in Reception to Year 2 are provided with free fruit at break time.
Children from Year 3 to 6 can bring their own nut and seed free healthy snack.