School Dinners
The school lunches at Shortlanesend School are produced by Chartwells Foods Services.
Our meals are served in the hall. Children are free to choose to eat either school dinners or have a packed lunch brought from home on a daily basis. There is a daily choice of meat and vegetarian hot meals, jacket potatoes, pasta or meat / vegetarian picnic plates.
We operate a system on Parent Pay which allows you to order the meal that they would like to eat at lunch time in advance. This had helped to reduce the food waste that the kitchen produce since they only cook to order.
Free School Meals
Not to be confused with the free school meals for all KS1 pupils, it is vital that all Key Stage 1 pupils who are eligible to claim Free School Meals are registered in order for schools to receive the Pupil Premium funding.
The 'Free Schools Meals Application Form' has been revised and is available as a download below. Alternatively you can apply online. Parents/carers complete one application for all of their children – whether it is for Free School Meals (so Year 3 and above who must pay for their school lunches) or for their child’s school to receive Pupil Premium only (i.e. for KS1 children who already receive a free school lunch).
Packed Lunch Guidelines
We are dedicated to providing an environment that promotes healthy eating and enables pupils to make informed choices about the food they eat. If your child brings a packed lunch to school, we ask that they are as healthy as possible and you advise your child that children are not allowed to swap food items.
What is a healthier lunchbox?
Variety is the key to a healthier lunchbox. Making a lunchbox healthier and appetising to pupils does not mean that they miss out on all the things that they enjoy eating. It is all about getting a balance and good variety of foods over a period of time. No single food can provide all the essential nutrients that the body needs.
Healthy Lunchbox Checklist
When choosing products for healthier lunchboxes, you should try to choose those lower in salt, fat and sugar.
Have you included…
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A good portion of starchy food, eg. wholegrain bap, thick sliced wholemeal bread, chapatti, pitta pocket, pasta or rice salad?
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Plenty of fruit and vegetables eg. an apple, satsuma, handful of cherry tomatoes or carrot sticks, mini-can of fruit chunks or small box of raisins?
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A portion of semi skimmed milk or dairy food eg. individual cheese portion or pot of yoghurt?
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A portion of protein eg. ham, chicken, beef, tuna, egg or hummus?
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A drink eg. fruit juice, semi skimmed milk or water?
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Please limit the frequency of crisps and chocolate biscuits
Please do not include…
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Fizzy drinks and confectionery (sweets and chocolate bars)
What does a healthier lunchbox include?
The ‘Healthier Lunchbox Checklist’ is based on the food groups of the Balance of Good Health, which promotes balance and variety. The purpose of the checklist is to ensure something from each of the food groups is included in the lunchbox, providing a better balance of nutrients, and that it includes a drink. Bright and colourful foods with different tastes and textures should be included. Fruit and vegetables do this naturally. If the food looks great, even if it is healthier, then the chances are that children will want to try it. There are many ways to keep the lunchbox exciting, for example adopt a colour theme for each day, take inspiration from holidays or different countries and foods that are in season or grown in the school/home garden.
Healthy Snack
Our school councillors would like to highlight the importance of having a healthy snack for break time. This could be a piece of fruit, chopped up vegetables like carrots and cucumbers, granola/oat based cereal bars, or a fruit yoghurt tube.
