School Meals
Mendip Green Primary School is a NUT-AWARE school.
PLEASE HELP US TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN WITH ALLERGIES FROM THE RISK OF ANAPHYLAXIS.
Food and products where nuts of any type or quantity are listed as ingredients are strictly prohibited on the school grounds. This includes chocolate spreads (including Nutella), cereal bars and sun creams/hand lotions where nuts are listed in the ingredients.
In some cases, packaging will state the product 'may contain nuts'. This is usually due to environment that the product is made in and possible risk of contamination. Food/products where packaging only states it 'may contain nuts' and nuts are not listed in the ingredients, can be brought into school.
School Meals With ELAN
School meals cost £2.70 per day. Please ensure that there are sufficient funds in your School Grid account if you wish your child to have a school dinner.
The ELAN menu offers 4 meal choices each day:
- main meal (meat)
- main meal (vegetarian)
- Jacket potato - with a choice of toppings
- Sandwich - with a choice of fillings
Children can also choose from a range of puddings each day: the pudding of the day, organic yoghurt and fresh fruit.
Do I need to book a school meal?
- From September 2026, all school meals must be booked in advance on School Grid. It will not be possible for school meals to be selected from the classroom or office.
- During morning registration, teachers will check that children know they are having a school dinner (if they have on pre-booked), or that they have a packed lunch in school. Teachers will not be able to see which school meal parents/carers have selected for their child, only that a meal has been booked.
- The School Grid platform makes it easier for you to manage your child’s school meals and for us to ensure every child’s dietary needs are met. You will also be able to view a visual menu that will help you and your child choose school meals.
- School Grid offers a range of features:
- Allergen and dietary information: School Grid will securely store each child’s allergen and dietary information, which will be directly communicated to our kitchen and school office to ensure safe meal preparation. Parents/carers will be responsible for completing this information prior to September.
- Parental access: When you first set up your School Grid account you will be provided with information about how to use the system to make payments, select meals and update dietary preferences.
- Improved communication: The system will help us keep you informed about menu options, allergens, and any changes to meal provision.
How much are school dinners and how do I pay for them?
- Our school dinners cost £2.70 a day.
- Meals must be ordered and paid for in advance on School Grid. You can control the amount on their account and add additional amounts at anytime to suit you.
- If there are not sufficient funds on your School Grid account to pay for any school meals you will not be able to book a dinner.
- To set up a School Grid account or if you have any questions regarding an existing account, please contact the school office.
- If you are having any difficulties paying for School Meals, please contact our pastoral team via the school office or by using our confidential support email address: support@mendipgreen.extendlearning.org.
Is my child eligible for free school meals?
The Department for Education (DfE) is introducing changes to the national free school meals (FSM) eligibility criteria from September 2026.
All families currently entitled to FSM must reapply to continue receiving the benefit in September, as transitional protections* will end at the end of this school year (July 2026).
Also, the DfE are expanding FSM eligibility so many more families may now be eligible. We are therefore asking ALL parents and carers to apply over the summer.
If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, they will receive a free school meal
through the universal infant free school meals scheme. However, we still need you to apply as it can help the school receive additional funding to support pupils.
What you need to do
All families are requested to check eligibility by 1 September 2026, please use this link: https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/pp-extendlearning/
It is important that you apply, as this will enable the school to receive additional funding that provides extra support and benefit to children.
Drinks Bottles
Children need to bring in a drinks bottle every day. This should be filled with fresh water or weak squash. Children will have access to their drinks bottle throughout the school day. This is part of our commitment to being a 'healthy school' and supporting the health and wellbeing of our children.
Mendip Green water bottles are available for purchase from the school office.
Packed lunches
Children may bring a packed lunch to school. These should not include:
- hot/fizzy drinks
- glass containers
- food that requires reheating/cooking
- food that requires refrigerating
- chocolate bars or sweets
We ask that parents do not include nut products (nuts or any products where nuts are listed in the ingredients) in packed lunches as we have children in school with severe nut allergies.
Children are not permitted to share any of their packed lunch with others. This is to ensure the safety children with allergies and food intolerances,
It is important that children eat a balanced diet - this will naturally include a mix of healthy foods and small treats. Although we request that chocolate bars and sweets are not packed in the children's lunch boxes, a chocolate biscuit, small cake or other sweet treats such as popcorn can be included as part of a balanced meal.
So that you can monitor how much and what your child has eaten, children will be asked to take their rubbish and any left over food home with them in their lunch box.
- Children will receive free milk, a third pint carton, up to their fifth birthday.
- Children over the age of 5 can continue to receive milk in one of two ways:
- If they are entitled to free school meals (not universal free school meals) milk can be provide free of charge throughout their time at school. Please contact the school office if your child is entitled to free school meals and would like to receive milk.
- If children are not eligible for free school meals, the opportunity to continue receiving milk beyond their fifth birthday is available at a cost. Please arrange this with the school office.
Snacks
Fruit and vegetables are a good source of the nutrients that children need and form part of a healthy, balanced diet. It is recommended that children – like adults – eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day.
Children may bring a healthy snack with them which can be eaten during the morning session. These snacks should be fresh or dried fruit/vegetables.
As part of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, all children in EYFS, Year 1 and Year 2 will be offered a fruit/vegetable snack each day. This provides 1 of their '5 A Day' portions. The scheme also helps to increase awareness of the importance of eating fruit and vegetables, encouraging healthy eating habits that can be carried into later life.
Teachers find that distributing the fruit in class groups helps to encourage a sharing, calm, social time. It also allows them to incorporate the scheme into teaching and learning.
The fruit and vegetables are delivered to schools 3 times a week to ensure freshness.
Depending on the season, the choice of fruits will vary. However, most commonly, there's a choice of:
- bananas
- apples
- pears
- carrots
- tomatoes
- easy-peel citrus fruits, such as satsumas
During the year, cucumbers, strawberries and raisins are also offered delivered.
All the fruit and vegetables are washed before they're handed out, which is usually just before the mid-morning break, normally in individual class groups.
