School Meals
Our School Meals are catered for by Chartwells until 17th July 2026.
From 1st September 2026, we will be making an important change to how school meals are provided at Hunwick Primary School.
After careful consideration, we have decided to move away from our current external catering provider and bring our school meals service in-house. This means the food will now be prepared and managed directly by our own school catering team (ALP Catering).
We believe this change will bring many benefits for the children. Having an in-house team gives us more flexibility and control over what we serve each day. It also means we can ensure meals are freshly prepared, well-balanced, and suited to the tastes and needs of our pupils – including any dietary requirements.
The new menus will continue to be healthy, nutritious, and appealing for younger children, with a focus on fresh ingredients and a variety of choice. We are excited to create a more personalised and engaging lunchtime experience for our pupils.
School Meals are currently priced at £3.08 and can be paid for via Arbor.
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are all eligible for Universal Free School Meals. Nursery children must currently pay for their school meals. School meal money to be paid in advance.
Children can also bring their own packed lunch. We ask that parents consider a ‘healthy’ packed lunch. Nuts, sweets, chocolate bars and fizzy drinks are not to be included. We encourage children to make healthy choices for improved health and fitness.
If you would like your child to receive a school meal, please let the School Office know, ideally giving 1 weeks notice.
Free School Meals
From September 2026 there are some important changes to free school meal eligibility, which may mean more families can now receive support.
Currently, families claiming universal credit had to earn below a defined income level to be eligible for free meals. From September 2026, the government is expanding eligibility, and all universal credit families can now apply for a free school meal, regardless of income.
You may be eligible if your household receives universal credit, income support, income-based jobseekers’ allowance, pension credit, child tax credit on a low income, or working tax credit run on. If you’re not sure, it’s still worth checking, even if:
- your child currently has packed lunches
- you have previously applied and were not eligible
- your circumstances have changed recently
Why it is important to register?
Registering for free school meals can provide benefits beyond school lunches. Eligibility may also help our school access additional funding to support teaching, resources and pastoral care for your child and other students.
PLEASE NOTE: If your child currently receives free school meals, this does not mean you will receive free school meals in September 2026. The new Government rules mean that parents/carers will need to reapply each academic year, regardless of any changes in circumstances. Once approved, entitlement will be awarded for the full academic year, regardless of any changes in circumstances.
To apply for free school meals, please click the following link: https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/pp-alplearning
