We are excited to inform you that Caterlink will be providing our school meals from April 2024.

https://caterlinkltd.co.uk/school/caterlink-primary-division/

Mater Christi MAT has appointed, 'Caterlink' to provide our school meals after the Easter holidays. School lunches will be ordered through the SCHOOL GATEWAY as normal - please click on the link below for instructions on how to do this.

https://parent-support.parentpaygroup.com/hc/en-gb/articles/4409418892561-How-do-I-book-cancel-a-meal-pre-order-using-Meal-Manager

This function went live on the app on 5th April, so you can now begin to order your child's school meals. The cost of a school meal for pupils in

• Nursery is £1.93 per day, £9.65 per week
• Reception, Year 1 & Year 2 is £0.00. All pupils are entitled to receive a FREE Universal Infant School Meal
• Year 3 to Year 6 is £2.53 per day, £12.65 per week

Please note, meals MUST be booked and paid for by 9.00am daily. When confirming your lunch bookings, payments due MUST be paid within 2 hours. Failure to do so will result in the unpaid meal bookings being cancelled. If your payment due is zero (£0.00), simply confirm bookings and no further action is required.

We want to make sure that we are providing your child with the best education and support we can. Healthy school food has obvious health benefits and can help pupils establish healthy habits for life. Healthy school food can also help to improve pupils’ readiness to

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• 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 - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Registering for free meals could also raise an extra £1,455 for our school to fund valuable support like extra tuition, additional teaching staff or after school activities. This additional money is available from central government for every child whose parent is receiving one of the benefits listed above. If you think you may be eligible for FSM/Clothing Grant please apply using the link below:

https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/schools-and-education/free-school-meals-and-clothing-vouchers

Healthy Eating: Our school dinners provide a very healthy choice and the best way of ensuring your child has a good balanced meal at lunch time.

However, we know some families prefer their child to have a packed lunch from home, so we encourage parents and carers to provide a tasty and healthy packed lunch. Here are some good websites which offer useful advice on what to put in a healthy lunchbox:

https://www.nhs.uk/change4life

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/childhealth6-15/Pages/Lighterlunchboxes.aspx

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/the-eatwell-guide/

Food Allergy & Intolerance Form - a word version of this form will be emailed to all parents, please read carefully and, where applicable, return to school as soon as possible.

By completing this form, you wish to inform the school that your child has a food allergy or intolerance or a food-related medical condition and wish to have a menu provided for your child to have a school lunch. This form is not to be used for lifestyle choices such as veganism or religious dietary requirements.

Caterlink work closely with their suppliers and aim to be as accurate as possible, but it must be noted that they can only be guided by the information the suppliers provide, like the process of a parent catering for a child’s special diet. It is essential that all parties concerned work together when providing a safe special diet and that this is reviewed with every menu change, therefore please ensure this form is fully completed with clear and accurate information.

It is vital that all forms are accompanied with a referral letter from a medical professional (G.P/ consultant /dietician). This form must be handed into the school and discussed with them (NOT the Caterers).