School Meals

We run our own in-house catering led by our own catering manager Mrs Sam Copsey. All meals are freshly cooked every day using fresh meat from local butchers and fresh fruit and vegetables from local suppliers.

We offer a wide range of meals and sandwiches, all balanced nutritionally and excellent value for money.

From time to time we will invite you in for a shared lunch with your child, followed by a classroom visit.

If your child brings a packed lunch, please ensure the container is labelled. We discourage sweets and chocolate bars – please don’t include them in your child’s packed lunch.

Pupils at Caister Infant School with Nursery in Year Reception to Year 2, are eligible for Universal Free School Meals.

Meals for children in Nursery are chargeable at a cost of £2.65 from September 2023.

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What are the benefits of claiming free school meals?

School meals are a good way to ensure that your child eats well at lunchtime, and they can also save you time and money.

Claiming free school meals also helps the school. We get extra funding, known as the ‘pupil premium’, for every eligible pupil who is registered. You will find more information about how we use our pupil premium funding on our website and why it is important in more detail below (click here).

Free school meals are available for your child
if you already receive:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you are also not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
  • Universal Credit
  • Working Tax Credit run-on-paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
We have a number of children in schools with nut allergies who can develop a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. We cannot have nuts in school in any form. Please can we ask that you have no nut products in the lunch boxes or brought into school for break.
 
For more information please see page 13 of our Parent/Carer Handbook.

Pupil Premium Finding

What is the pupil premium?

The pupil premium grant is funding provided to schools to help all pupils reach their full potential, regardless of their background or financial situation.

Pupils may be eligible if they:

  • Are registered for free school meals
  • Have been registered for free school meals at any point since May 2010
  • Are, or have been, in care
  • Have parents in the armed forces

How is the pupil premium funding used?

The pupil premium is not used to pay for school meals. Schools use the funding to improve the attainment of pupils who are eligible.

You will find more information about how we use our pupil premium funding on our website.

How can I ensure the school gets the funding?

The more eligible pupils that are registered for free school meals, the more funding the school receives.

Registering does not mean your child has to take up free school meals if they don’t want to.

You should still register for free school meals even if:

  • Your child already receives universal infant free school meals
  • You would rather your child had a different meal, such as a packed lunch