School Meals and Free School Meals
Please click on the links below for further information on the catering company (Aspens) and menus.
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Medical Diet Request Form |
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School meals are available or children may bring a packed lunch. The meals are freshly prepared and cooked on site and meet the School Food Standards, providing a hot balanced meal every day. The meal includes a choice of two main meals (one of which is suitable for a vegetarian) or a jacket potato with filling, a choice of two vegetables, a salad bar, freshly baked bread, a pudding of the day or a choice of fresh fruit or organic yogurt, and drinking water.
Salad Bar
It is possible to 'mix and match' if you would like your child to have hot dinners on only some days, and packed lunch the rest.
The menu is changed twice a year to reflect seasonal availability. Please click the link above for the current menu.
Prices
For this academic year, the Mayor of London has arranged for all primary school children in London to have a free lunch. Therefore, all pupils at Forestdale Primary School from Reception to Year 6 are entitled to a free school meal every day. There are no forms to fill out and you do not need to let the school office know. Your child can let their class teacher know that they are school dinners during the morning register. Your child is entitled to a free school meal throughout the year or they can change between packed lunches and school dinners whenever they choose.
Free School Meals
Free meals are available dependent upon financial circumstances and forms are available from the school office.
Croydon Council has an online service so parents/carers can check their eligibility for free school meals. This self-service option is available at:
All you need to do is enter your name, date of birth, national insurance number, address and child’s details. If you are eligible the school is notified.
Even if your child does not wish to have a school meal but is still entitled, PLEASE register as the school receives funding for each child entitled to free meals.
Your child may be eligible if you have claimed one of the following benefits within the last 6 years:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The Guarantee element of the State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you have not received working tax credit and have an income of less than £16,190.)
If you are unsure, please speak to the school office where information provided will be kept in the strictest of confidence.
For further information on the extra benefits from free school meals, please visit
Packed Lunches
Children may choose to bring a packed lunch to school. This must be in a clearly labelled rigid container.
As a Croydon Food Flagship School a balanced packed lunch should include:
1) A savoury main e.g. sandwich, wrap, pasta
2) Fruit or vegetables snacks
3) Dairy e.g. cheese or yoghurt
4) Additional low salt/ low sugar snack
5) Water
Fizzy drinks, chocolate, sweets or items containing sesame or nuts are not permitted as part of a packed lunch and this includes chocolate spreads containing hazelnuts. Please save 'treat' items such as biscuits, cakes and crisps to choices at home.
For the main part of their lunch, as an alternative to a sandwich/wrap, children can bring in soup in a thermos flask or rice/noodle based dishes in thermos tiffin style boxes if they prefer. Parents/carers should ensure that the contents of such containers is warm, but never hot, by the time that lunchtime arrives.
Children may not bring sweets or chewing gum into school.
Special Diet and Allergies
The school is a nut free zone!
If your child has school dinners and suffers from an allergy or has a special dietary requirement, then please complete and return the following special diet and allergy form:
Fruit
Each day, Infant children will be provided, free of charge, with a piece of fruit. This is part of our ongoing work as a 'Healthy School.' The fruit is provided by the National Fruit Scheme.
Milk
All children under 5 are entitled to free school milk. We have signed up to a company called ‘Cool Milk’ that deliver fresh milk to the school.
If you wish your child to receive a carton of milk each day please complete the form that you will find in your Welcome to Reception pack. Once your child reaches their 5th birthday you can continue with the scheme but will be required to pay for the milk.
