School Dinners

Gusford use Caterlink to provide school dinners to pupils. Current prices are £2.30 for a meal,

35p for a fruit juice and 55p for a milkshake.

A cashless cafeteria system is used and payment can be made either by ‘Parentmail’ or by cash

using the machine located in the front entrance of the school. Each child is provided with a PIN

number which has to be entered into the machine. Parents can pay a week, month or a term in

advance.

Pupils have a choice of a hot meal or Pick and Mix. The Pick and Mix selection will consist of a

wrap/sandwich or roll with a selection of fruit and vegetables such as cucumber/carrot sticks,

grapes, apples slices etc and dessert. Menus are updated on a termly basis and available in the

school office if needed.

Packed Lunch

Provision is made for children to bring their own packed lunch. Water and beakers are provided.

Children who bring their own food may also purchase drinks from the dining room if money is

on their dinner account. Children are not permitted (for safety reasons) to bring tins, glass

bottles or fizzy drinks. As the school has ‘Healthy Schools’ status we encourage parents to

provide a healthy packed lunch for their child and therefore avoid large quantities of chocolate

biscuits, etc. as this does affect some children’s behaviour in the afternoon. Bars of chocolate

and sweets are not allowed for packed lunch.

Nuts in Packed Lunches

I am sure that many parents are aware that some children suffer extreme allergic reaction to

nuts. This can result in death, if airways are blocked as a result of swelling in the throat. As we

have some children who suffer from this reaction, we request all parents not to put items

containing nuts into their child’s packed lunches (eg. Peanut butter sandwiches, bags of

peanuts or mixed nuts).

Break Time Snacks

As part of our approach to health education the school has adopted a healthy eating policy.

Children are only allowed to bring in fresh fruit to eat during morning break time. This must be

stored separately from packed lunch, as children are not allowed to access their packed lunch

box during break time.

Universal Free School Meals & Free School Meals for Years 3-6

Since the introduction in 2014 of the Government’s Universal Free School Meals initiative, all

Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children have been entitled to a free meal at lunchtime.

However, if you are in receipt of any of the below you may be eligible to receive Free School

Meals for children in Years 3 to 6 and be able to receive additional help with reduced fees for

clubs and support with school uniform and purchasing other necessary equipment for all

children regardless of their year group.

 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 guaranteed 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 run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax

Credit

 Universal Credit

It is therefore very beneficial to officially register for Free School Meals/Pupil Premium

regardless of which year your child is in. If parents register for Free School Meals for their child,

the school is able to claim Pupil Premium which helps us to provide additional support for them. It is really important that parents who meet the criteria (detailed below) register for Free School

Meals and thereby Pupil Premium, to help our school secure this additional funding.

If after having read the criteria above you feel you are eligible, please follow the following online

link or complete the form which is available in the school office:

https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families- and-learning/schools/school- meals-uniforms- and-

trips/apply-for- free-school- meals/,

Please also see our Pupil Premium School Policy for more details.