Payments to school and school lunches

SCHOOL SPIDER

School Spider is to be used for most of your school payments inclsuing school dinners.  It is also our new communication tool for parents to receive texts and updates from school and to book parents evening appointments.  To be able to access this you will need to provide school with an email and once your child has started you will get login (via your email) with instructions on how to create an account. You are able to download the School Spider app for free on your phone and receive texts from us.

We are working towards being a cashless school, however, in exceptional circumstances we will accept cash or cheques in a clearly marked envelope with your child’s name and reason for payment.  Please note: School cannot be held responsible for monies sent in with children or in school bags.

SCHOOL MEALS

The cost of a school dinner is currently:

£13.00 per week (Child portion £2.60 per day) for PRIMARY pupils

£14.00 per week (Adult portion £2.80 per day) for SECONDARY & COLLEGE pupils

This cost is reviewed annually and may be subject to change. School meals are prepared on the premises in our kitchen in line with the Healthy Schools guidelines. Dinner consists of a main course and pudding with water to drink and a vegetarian option each day, menus are available to view or download below, or on request from school, we can also provide a packed lunch for pupils as an alternative to a hot meal.

Ad hoc meals can be ordered and paid for online through school spider up to 24 hours beforehand. Your child is welcome to bring a packed lunch into school as an alternative to a school dinner and this is eaten in the dinner hall with the rest of the children.

PLEASE NOTE THAT FOR PACKED LUNCHES: Our school kitchen is not able to provide metal cutlery for pupils on packed lunches, please send this in from home. Plastic cutlery is available but it is single use and we are trying to reduce the amount of plastic used in school.

Pupil meal numbers are confirmed with our cook at 10am every morning. The kitchen staff are unable to give meals to pupils who have not pre-booked. It is the parent/carers responsibility to inform the school office of any changes to their child’s meal arrangements. Please note that you will be charged for all meals cooked if you have not informed the office of any changes.

FREE SCHOOL MEALS

Since September 2014 all pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 in Primary schools are entitled to a free school meal, referred to as Universal Free School Meals (UFSM).

In addition to UFSM, if your child is in reception, year 1 or year 2, and you receive certain benefits you can register your eligibility with the council and the school and pupil will benefit from additional funding called pupil premium.

For pupils in other year groups, to qualify for free schools meals you must be getting one of the following:

· Universal credit with a household income of less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

· Income related Employment and Support Allowance

· Income support

· Income based Jobseekers Allowance (IB-JSA)

· Child Tax Credit, not entitled to Working Tax Credit and household income less than £16,190

· Working Tax Credit ‘run on’ – the payment you received for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

· Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

· Guarantee element of State pension credit

To apply please visit the LCC Free School meal website. Provide them with your name, date of birth and National Insurance number and they can immediately check your entitlement via the DFE Electronic free school meals checking service.

Sixteen Plus: When a pupil reaches their sixteenth birthday and if they are in receipt of other benefits, they are eligible to claim for free school dinners in their own right – irrespective of parents income – so please ring your local Area Education office if you have any queries.

Local Area Education Offices:

· Lancaster, Morecambe, Wyre and Fylde: 01524 581207

· Preston, South Ribble, West Lancs and Chorley: 01772 531809

· Pendle, Rossendale, Hyndburn & Ribble Valley 01254 220747

If we are informed that your child no longer qualifies for free school meals you will be responsible for the full cost of any meal prepared after that date.