SCHOOL MEALS
At St Thomas', our children can choose either to have a 'School Dinner' or bring a packed lunch in from home for lunchtime. We use Lancashire School Catering Services to provide our 'School Dinners' and we have a dedicated team, who work hard to produce a wide variety of meals. Our food is cooked fresh each day in our school kitchen.
School Dinner Charges
From September 2023 School Dinners will be charged at £2.55 per day. This will be reflected in Parentpay accounts from the start of term.
Please remember that children moving into Year 3 are no longer eligible for Universal Free School Meals and will now be charged for school dinners. This does not affect your child if they are eligible for government funded free school meals. If you feel your child might still be eligible for free school meals please apply here https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/schools/free-school-meals/?page=3
Lunch Options
We ask families to decide between packed lunches and school dinners on a half-termly basis. If you wish to change your meal pattern you need to contact the School Office in readiness for the start of the next half term. However, if there is a special 'Themed' school dinner option e.g. Christmas, Harvest, Book Day etc. your child can still opt in to these events on an 'ad hoc' basis. If you wish to change your child’s meal pattern, please contact the office: office@st-thomas.lancs.sch.uk before the start of each half term.
What's on the Menu?
All LCC menus are planned to comply with School Food Standards and all new dishes are tested by children. All meat is Red Tractor Farm Assured, the fish is MSC certified and the eggs are free-range Lion brand. Lancashire Catering Services use a number of organic products throughout the menus. There is always fresh fruit and salad, bread and locally produced yoghurt available daily. All our menus are checked using a recognised programme to analyse nutrition. They also work with Lancashire Healthy Schools and support the Change 4 Life campaign. The result is a menu your child will enjoy and that will prepare them for learning in the afternoon.
To make the most of seasonal produce the menus are changed at a minimum of twice a year.
Whilst every effort is made to produce the published menus, please note that the food on offer may vary occasionally subject to availability and individual school requirements.
Packed Lunches
If your child chooses to have packed lunches, they will eat in the school hall with their classmates. We encourage all children and families to ensure that all lunches are healthy and nutritious and include a drink, so that children have the energy for their afternoon learning and sessions. We ask that sugary sandwich fillings, sugary snacks, chocolates, sweets and fizzy drinks are not included in packed lunches.
Click here for some helpful ideas for healthy packed lunches (NHS website)