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Families

School Meal Information

School lunch is an important part of the school day and gives opportunity not only to eat a freshly cooked meal but also for developing social and independence skills.  We regard mealtimes in school as a teaching and learning opportunity and provide additional staff for this. Staff are trained to manage the bespoke feeding needs some pupils have.

Meals are cooked freshly on site through Sandwell-based SIPS Education. The menu provided is diverse and nutritionally balanced.  Kitchen staff work hard to provide the best quality meals and cater for the very bespoke preparation needs many of our pupils have. 

SIPS June23  The Orchard Leaflet

 

Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM)

All infant pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 are eligible for Universal Infants Free School Meals.

If you receive benefits and your child gets Universal Infant Free School Meals you should still apply online for Free School Meals. This will allow the school to receive extra funding that could support your child.

Free School Meals

If you receive benefits or have a low income, your child may be eligible for Free School Meals.

You may be eligible for Free School Meals if you receive a qualifying benefit.

This could be:

  • Universal Credit - your household earned annual income must be less than £7,400 after tax and not including any benefits
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guarantee element of Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
  • Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Once the roll out of Universal Credit is completed in March 2023 anyone who no longer meets the eligibility criteria , either because their earnings are above the limit or if they no longer receive Universal Credit, will continue to receive Free School Meals until the end of their current phase of education (i.e. primary or secondary).

The Universal Credit rollout is currently expected to complete in March 2023.

Apply for free school meals - GOV.UK

Paying for meals

The school operates a cashless system, ParentPay – Please see the link below for further information

ParentPay Information

Packed lunch

For pupils who do not wish to have a cooked school meal, parents and carers can provide a packed lunch. Please contact the School to discuss further.

Who can I contact if I have a question?

Deanna Jackson oversees School meals and will be happy to help with any questions you may have.  Please contact the school using the main school telephone number  
0121 569 7040

Contact Us

The Orchard School
Causeway Green Road
OLDBURY
B68 8LD

0121 569 7040