Food in school
Free school meals
All children in Reception and Years 1-2 are eligible for Universal Infant Free Schools Meals (UIFSM). Some children may be entitled to income based Free School Meals if their families are in receipt of one 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)
- Universal Credit – if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household earnings must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
We encourage all eligible families to apply for income based FSM (even if you do not intend to use them or if your child already receives UIFSM because they are in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2) as this means school can claim the Pupil Premium Grant which we can use to support your family further (eg. with the cost of trips and clubs)
For more information and to apply for free school meals, please visit:
https://www.coventry.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals
School meals
Educaterers provide our school dinner service with a three-week rolling menu. Meals are prepared in our own kitchen and offer a choice of fresh, healthy cooked food that meets Government food based standards using good quality local ingredients. All sauces are enriched with vegetables to help increase daily vegetable uptake, with limits on added salt and sugar. Food allergies and intolerances can be catered for by contacting the school office.
The cost of a school dinner is £2.50 per day. Please pay online via My Child At School (MCAS).
If your child has a doctor’s or dental appointment and will be arriving late, it is essential that you notify us by 9.30am to ensure that a school meal is ordered. Similarly, if you will be collecting your child for an appointment, and a school meal will not be required, please let us know. If the meal is not cancelled, it will have to be charged to you.
Packed lunches
Children may bring in packed lunches, provided that the containers used are secure and clearly marked with the child’s name. Children have thirty minutes to eat at mid-day. We feel that very few would take longer than that for a meal at home, so please ensure that lunch boxes are not overloaded. We ask that No Nuts or products containing nuts are brought into school and No cans, fizzy drinks or glass bottles.
Healthy snacks and drinks
Under the Fruit in School scheme, children in Reception, year 1 & year 2 are entitled to a piece of fruit each day free of charge. This is given as a playtime snack. Children are encouraged to drink water and can re-fill their water bottles throughout the day. Milk is available for all children up until their 5th birthday. All children in Reception receive a free water bottle when they start school at Howes. Replacement water bottles are available to buy from the school office for £2. Sweets, chocolate, chewing gum, etc. are not permitted in school.
NO NUTS
Howes aims to be a nut free school. Please do not send in any food containing nuts as we have children in school with severe allergies. If any nut products are found in lunches (including chocolate spread), they will be removed and you will be informed at the end of the day.