School meals

How to apply for free school meals

Free school meals are managed by your local authority. To check if you qualify and to apply, visit the government website or your local authority’s online portal. If your application is successful, both you and the school will receive confirmation, and the entitlement will be processed automatically.

Who is eligible for free school meals

To be eligible for free school meals, you must receive one of the following benefits:

· Universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) provides funding for all government funded schools to offer free school meals to pupils in reception, year 1, and year 2 therefore the lunches are provided free of charge if your child is in any of these years groups

· Income support and Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

· Child Tax Credit (not Working Tax Credit) with an annual income below £16,190

· Pension Guarantee Credit · Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)

· Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

· Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying)

· Universal Credit with a household income of £7,400 or less (after tax and excluding benefits)

How to pay

Please order and pay for meals via ParentPay. the cost of lunches is £2.30 per meal/ day.

Funds can be added via ParentPay, our online payment platform. To avoid payment delays, we recommend using the standard card payment method rather than the one-click bank transfer, which can take up to 10 days to process. Follow these steps to top up your child’s balance:

1. Log in to ParentPay.

2. Select your child’s name and click ‘Pay for Meals’.

3. Enter the amount and add to your basket.

4. Click the trolley icon and proceed to checkout.

5. Choose ‘Other Payment Method’ and enter your card details.

6. Click ‘Review Payment’ and then ‘Pay Now’.

7. Check your email for confirmation from platform@parentpay.com.

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IMPORTANT: Please note that the lunch orders need to be completed by Tuesday midnight for the following (next week) each time and the orders for new term needs to be completed by Tuesday midnight in the last week of previous term i.e. by Tue 23rd Nov for booking lunches for return to school on Mon 29th Nov.

Please email contactus@lifthazelwood.org if you need any help or support.

Bringing a packed lunch

Pupils are welcome to bring a packed lunch from home. We encourage healthy choices, such as fresh fruit, vegetables, and wholegrain foods, to support their learning and wellbeing throughout the day.

School Milk & Allergies

Milk is the ideal mid-morning drink for your child and for many it’s absolutely free. School milk is excellent as a mid-morning drink. It provides a nutritional boost and keeps children hydrated between breakfast and lunch, helping them to concentrate and learn.

School milk is…FREE for children under the age of five.

FREE to children in receipt of Pupil Premium.

Subsidised for all other children in primary education.

We are a nut free school.

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If your child is under five…

Register your child online at www.coolmilk.com/register or pick up a registration form from reception and return it to FREEPOST COOL MILK (no other details required).

If you register before 5pm on a Tuesday, your child will start receiving milk from the following week.

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If your child is over five…

Register your child online at www.coolmilk.com/register or pick up a registration form from reception and return it to FREEPOST COOL MILK (no other details required).

Milk usually costs around just £15 a term. By registering online, you’ll be able to make a payment straightaway. If however, you return a registration form by post we will send you a payment request. If your payment is received by 5pm on a Tuesday, your child will receive milk the following week.

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If your child has any dietary requirements or allergies, please inform the school so we can make suitable arrangements. Please be aware of allergies of other pupils and follow and guidance you get from school about what food can be brought in from home.

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