School dinners
Midday meals are cooked and served on the school premises where our cook provides nourishing and well-balanced meals, which appeal to the children. Our food is provided by Lunchtime Co. Find out more about them on their website.
Since September 2014 all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 (Key Stage 1) are entitled to a universal infant free school meal.
Lunches currently cost £2.65 per meal for children in Key Stage 2 and we ask parents to pay in advance using the online ‘ParentPay’ system. Free meals are available to those children whose parents receive certain benefits which are detailed online at www.suffolk.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals and parents should use this website to apply.
The Menu
Our current menu can be found here.
Our online booking systems means you can order meals on a day-by-day basis (minimum 24 hours in advance) with a selection of meal options. In addition, there will now be a daily dessert table and salad bar with a variety of choices for the children to select from.
Medical Diets and Allergies
If your child requires a medical diet due to a food allergy, food intolerance or a medical condition that requires an adapted menu (e.g. carbohydrate count for Type 1 Diabetes), please email the office (admin@melton.suffolk.sch.uk).
Packed lunches
Children whose parents do not wish them to have a school meal may bring a packed lunch, to be eaten in the dining room.
Packed lunches play a significant role in a child’s weekly dietary intake, accounting for nearly one-third of their food consumption. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that these lunches are both balanced and nutritious, adhering to the same standards as school meals.
Ideally, a child’s packed lunch should encompass items from the five main food groups:
Bread, Rice, Potatoes, Pasta: These starchy foods serve as a valuable source of energy. Packed lunches should feature food from this group, such as pasta salad or sandwiches.
Fruit and Vegetables: These foods offer vital vitamins, minerals, and fibre. A balanced lunch should comprise at least one portion of fruit and one portion of vegetables or salad, or even more, like carrot or cucumber sticks, cherry tomatoes, and a piece of fruit.
Dairy: To promote healthy bone and teeth development, one portion of dairy, such as cheese, yogurt or fromage frais, should be included in the lunch.
Meat, Fish, Eggs, Beans: These foods supply essential protein for growth. A packed lunch should contain one portion from this category, like a boiled egg as a sandwich filling or a mixed bean salad.
Drinks: Children should bring in a named water bottle each day. This should be filled with water. Juice, squash are fizzy drinks are not permitted.
Please refrain from including sweets in your child’s packed lunch.
A choice of only one of the following is recommended per day:
- Cake / cake bar
- Packet of crisps
- Biscuit