School Meals
School Lunches
It is proven that pupils who have good, healthy diets, particularly during the school day, are more productive and more able to focus. Please feel free to read the information below about meals and snacks in school.
All meals provided at Biddick Primary and Nursery are freshly cooked on the premises each day by our experienced kitchen team, led by Mrs Tait. Meals are based around the menus devised by Sunderland Schools’ Catering Service. The menus are appealing and varied, and at the same time offer high nutritional standards.
You can also download the menu rotations supplied by our school meal providers.
Nursery
Those children, who are with us all day can bring their own packed lunch from home or are more than welcome to have a school meal. The price of a school meal is £2.50. Meals should be paid o line on Sunderland City Council‘s website using the PAY option. Please remember to add your child’s name, class and the dates you are paying for in the reference box. Meals should be paid weekly by a Monday morning or can be paid in advance in weekly increments.
Reception, Years 1 and 2
Every child in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will receive a free school meal. This government- funded initiative will give these children access to a hot and nutritious meal at lunchtime, with the aim of teaching healthier eating habits, boosting children’s performance in school and saving families money. In Sunderland, families will save approximately £380 per child, per year.
Key Stage 2
The price of a school meal is £2.50 (one of the lowest priced school meals both regionally and nationally). Meals should be paid online on Sunderland City Council‘s website using the PAY option. Please remember to add your child’s name, class and the dates you are paying for in the reference box. Meals should be paid weekly by a Monday morning or can be paid in advance in weekly increments.
Free school meals
Children are entitled to FSM if parents satisfy certain criteria as outlined on the following
link:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals.
Eligibility Criteria:
Any child may qualify for a free school meal if you receive one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit with an annual earnings threshold that does not exceed £7,400.
- Income Support.
- Income Based Jobseekers Allowance.
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
- Child Tax Credit (provided a parent is not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual - income, as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, that does not exceed £16,190.
- Working Tax Credit run on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.
- Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit.
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
If you think that you may be eligible, please apply for this support. If you are struggling to complete the online application, please contact school. We are more than happy to help you through the process if required and all applications will be treated in confidence.
PLEASE NOTE: PARENTS SHOULD STILL APPLY EVEN WHEN CHILDREN ARE IN KEY STAGE 1 AND RECEIVE UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS
Packed Lunches
Children may bring a packed lunch if they do not wish to have a hot meal. However, we request that, in line with the school’s Healthy Eating Policy, no chocolate, sweets or fizzy drinks are sent in lunch boxes. Information on ways to encourage your child to try new foods in their packed lunch can be found via the link below.
Fruit and Drinks
Biddick Primary School is part of the National School Fruit scheme, whereby all children aged 3 to 6 years receive a free piece of fruit each day; older children may bring in fruit or cereal bars from home. Our nursery pupils receive a free carton of milk each day. Children are encouraged to bring in a bottle to refill with fresh drinking water during the school day. This is provided by refrigerated water dispensers, located throughout the school.