School Meals
School Meals – Provided by Local Food Links
‘Our tasty school lunches are provided by Local Food Links, a friendly Dorset-based not-for-profit school catering company, who have been serving nutritious meals since 2006. Pupils in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 eat free! Some older students may also qualify, to find out more, please visit https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals. Meals must be ordered 7 days in advance. If your child has medical allergies or special dietary requirements please contact barry.dovell@localfoodlinks.org.uk’
You will need a special code. Please contact the School Office if you have not received one.
Please note: 7 days cancellation must be given for orders already placed.
Cost of meals are £2.80 for KS2 children.
If your child has just started school or your financial situation has changed, it’s worth checking if they’re eligible for free school meals. This support not only saves families up to £490 per year per child but ensures children receive a healthy, filling lunch every day.
School meals comply with School Food Standards, which help ensure children get the energy and nutrition they need across the whole school day.
Free School Meals
If your circumstances have changed since your last application, you may no longer be eligible. If you do not qualify, your child will stop receiving free school meals after 31 August 2026.
From September 2026, all children with a parent/carer who gets any level of Universal Credit can have free school meals. You need to apply for this from 1 June 2026.
There will be 2 levels of eligibility: targeted free school meals and expanded free school meals.
Targeted free school meals for families who get:
- Universal Credit and earn less than £7,400 per year
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- the guarantee element of Pension Credit
- households with families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
Families in the Targeted group may be able to access further related benefits. For example, pupil premium and free holiday activities and food (HAF) programme.
Expanded free school meals are for families receiving Universal Credit with earnings over £7,400 per year. They cover free school meals only.
To check eligibility and apply, please call Dorset Direct on 01305 22100. Alternatively, click here to apply online
Allergies
All Allergy Forms need to be renewed annually. If your child has an allergy, please collect a form from the school office. The form needs to be filled in and returned to Local Food Links as soon as possible. Please note, the ingredients for each dish are listed on the Local Food Links website ordering page.
Barry Dovell, Catering Manager, is the point of contact for parents of children with allergies. Barry is happy to discuss specialist dietary requirements with parents.
- Phone: 01308 428921
- Email: barry.dovell@localfoodlinks.org.uk
For general enquiries (including ordering your child’s school meals), please contact Tim Peel:
- Phone: 01308 420269
- Email: tim.peel@localfoodlinks.org.uk
Lunchboxes
You are welcome to provide lunch for your child. As a “Healthy School” we urge all parents to ensure their child/ren are provided with a balanced lunch box, with no sweets or chocolate. A good healthy lunch should include a sandwich, with a nourishing filling e.g. cheese, ham, salad etc., some fruit, a cereal bar, yogurt, raisins, carrot sticks, etc.
Children are encouraged to drink plenty of water throughout the day and the school has water fountains in both key stages. In addition, please ensure that your child is provided with water in a plastic bottle or flask and not glass. Fizzy and sweetened drinks are not permitted.