School Meals
School meals are provided by Coombs Catering who prepare the meals on site.
The menus are below for your information.
When your child first starts at Uffculme School, we ask what their meal booking pattern will be. Over time, your child’s requirements may change. If you would like to change your child’s meal booking pattern please email the school office and include the following information:
- Your child's name
- The new meal booking pattern for each day
- The date you would like the change to take place (please allow 24 hours' notice for any changes)
All changes must be communicated by email.
All payments for school meals must be made on ParentPay in advance. If you require any support with ParentPay or require your activation details, please contact the school office.
If you have any queries regarding school meals, please contact the school office.
Allergies
Allergies should be reported as a student is registered at the school or develops an allergy. Parents should report changes to school staff as soon as possible. This should be kept up to date by parents at the start of each academic year.
School staff will ask for medical confirmation of an allergy. This will be kept on record.
If your child has an allergy, you will be asked to provide meal choices from the relevant allergen menu. Each meal will then be prepared and plated separately.
Due to the updated guidance relating to allergies and school meals, allergen children can only be served with a baked potato and allergy-free toppings, until menu choices have been provided.
The school allergy policy is below for your information.
Intolerances
If your child has an intolerance, you will be asked to provide meal choices from the relevant allergen menu.
The school may ask for medical evidence of the intolerance so they are able to support the student and family in other aspects of school life.
Allergy v Intolerance
We would ask parents to carefully consider the table below when detailing their child’s dietary requirement:
Feature |
Food Allergy |
Food Intolerance |
|
System Involved |
Immune system |
Digestive system |
|
Cause |
Immune reaction to proteins in food |
Difficulty digesting food or reacting to chemicals |
|
Severity |
Can be life-threatening (anaphylaxis) |
Usually mild, not life-threatening |
|
Amount Needed |
Tiny amounts can trigger reaction |
Variable, but larger amounts usually needed |
|
Symptoms |
Hives, swelling, wheezing, vomiting, anaphylaxis |
Bloating, gas, cramps, diarrhoea, headaches |
|
Management |
Complete avoidance, emergency medication |
Limit intake, enzyme supplements may help |
|
Examples (these lists are not exclusive) |
|
|
Dietary Preferences
We realise that some pupils have dietary preferences and would prefer some food items that are not available on the menu daily. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate dietary preferences.
If you have any queries regarding school meals, please contact the school office.
Free School Meals
Children from eligible families will be able to access free school meals. Information on the eligibility criteria can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
If you think that your child will be eligible for free school meals, please complete the online application: Online FSM Application (cloudforedu.org.uk). You will receive an instant decision and the school will also be notified of the outcome.
Children in reception class that are of compulsory school age, until the end of year 2 are currently entitled to universal free school meals. When your child moves into year 3 you will be charged for school meals unless your child is eligible for free school meals.