School Meals
Our school meals are provided by Hutchison Catering, an independent, family-run catering supplier that maintains a traceable supply chain, and values ethical farming practices and locally sourced food where possible. We recognise that a great school food culture improves pupil health and wellbeing and Bradwell Junior pupils enjoy freshly made food in school every day.
All about Hutchisons
Hutchisons regularly gather ideas and feedback from pupils so that they can provide tempting, nutritionally balanced and wide-ranging food options that our pupils will enjoy. We work with Hutchisons to:
- offer tasty, nutritionally balanced meals
- offer crudités and jugs of water on the tables
- cater for a wide range of dietary requirements
- use local suppliers wherever possible
- make sure that 80% of our dishes are freshly prepared
- follow the standards set by the Soil Association Food for Life Partnership
- maintain a 5 star hygiene rated kitchen
- minimise packaging
- recycle as much as possible
Dietary requirements
All food products and menus will be clearly labelled where applicable, and all catering staff receive allergen training.
Special dietary requirements including vegetarian, vegan, Halal, gluten free and allergies can be accommodated. Please contact info@bradwelljunior.chorustrust.org for further information.
Paying for school meals
School meals will be charged at £3.25 per day.
We use a cashless catering payment system (the Arbor parent app) and your child’s dinner money account can be paid for, in advance, using Arbor. More information on Arbor is available on our communications page. Meals must be paid for in advance and if your account does fall into arrears, you may need to provide your child with a packed lunch.
Free School Meals
Applying for free school meals is straightforward, confidential and online and saves you money every year. Your child’s lunch account is automatically and confidentially credited with enough money for their school meal. At lunchtime, all children eat together and there is no distinction made between those receiving free school meals and those who do not.
Are you eligible?
Just log into the speedy free school meal checker system to see if you are eligible. Visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals or scan the QR code to check and apply:
Did you know?
We receive pupil premium funding for pupils who receive free school meals, which helps us to provide further support for these pupils. To find out how we use this money to support our pupils, please see our pupil premium page.
Further information
No nuts in school
Please do not send your child to school with any nuts, or products that contain nuts (such as pesto or a hazelnut filling). We have children at school with severe nut allergies who are at risk of significant reactions even being in the close proximity of a food containing nut products.
Packed lunches
Your child may bring a healthy packed lunch to school, in a named container. Children may bring a drink of squash or fruit juice to drink, or they are welcome to use the fresh drinking water, which is readily available throughout the school day. Please do bear in mind that we will not be able to refrigerate your child’s packed lunch.
Free healthy breakfast
We are pleased to offer a free breakfast club to all pupils every morning, through funding from the Department for Education. Children are provided with a free healthy breakfast consisting of cereal/toast every day before school. Families can book into breakfast club through Arbor the day before they wish to attend and there is no commitment to attend every session.
Healthy snacks
Children may bring a snack for their morning break or bring some small change to buy a snack from the Fruit Tuck Shop; prices range from 2p-40p per item. As a school that promotes healthy lifestyles, we ask that children bring healthy snacks, that do not contain nuts. Children are not permitted to bring sweets or chocolate to school.
Drinking water
Children may bring a bottle of water (not cordial or fizzy drinks) to have with them during lessons. We request that water bottles have sports caps to minimise the number of spillages. Children can refill these during the day as necessary.