UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS and INCOME DEPENDENT FREE SCHOOL MEALS

To make this this information regarding free school meals slightly less confusing for parents, here is a key.

1. Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) – At the moment, all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will be eligible for a hot school meal free of charge from September, no application and no additional funding to school.

2. Free School Meals (FSM) – Parents must meet the criteria detailed below and complete an application form. If you are eligible to claim, we encourage you to do so as each valid claim attracts additional funding to the school.

Families who are eligible for FSM include those on;

Qualifying benefits

If you wish to claim for free school meals, please click the link below or type the following web address into your computer’s browser and apply online as soon as possible. This is the quickest way of applying for free school meals.

https://forms.rochdale.gov.uk/xfp/form/306

School Meals

All meals are cooked fresh each day, using the best ingredients and freshest produce.  Portion sizes will be appropriate to each child’s age/size.  We have used the feedback from the children and come up with new menus which will run on a four week rota.  We will from time to time have ‘Special Days’ – we will let you know about these via the weekly newsletter.

Our menus will be reviewed regularly and hopefully with feedback from the children, we can establish healthy, tasty meal options that the children will enjoy eating.  Please encourage your child to let us know if there is something they have loved or something they disliked.

Online Payments

We now only accept online payments for school meals, before and after school clubs and expenses such as trips.  Payments can be made via our School Money system with your debit or credit card. 

To log into SchoolMoney, visit the website www.eduspot.co.uk and click on the sign in button in the top right hand corner. In the drop down, select the SchoolMoney Parent Login option and this will send you through to a page where you need to enter your mobile number, email address, the password we have sent to you, and your child’s first name. If for any reason you are struggling to log in, it may be because you have not provided us with the correct contact details. Please let us know immediately if either your mobile number or email address changes.  If for any reason you experience problems you can also call the school office where payment can be made over the telephone.

Meals at Crossgates 

At lunch-time, children have three options:-  

1. Home for lunch

Parents should remember that our lunchtime supervisors are not there to supervise children who go home for lunch. When returning from home children should arrive at school just before the start of the afternoon session.

WE ARE A NUT FREE SCHOOL, PLEASE CHECK THE CONTENTS OF YOUR CHILD’S PACKED LUNCH AND ENSURE THERE ARE NO NUT INGREDIENTS.

2. School Meals

Children have a choice of main courses including a “butty box” type option including a sandwich and salad bar and a choice of sweets, including fruit.  All our menu's are in line with National Food standards for schools.

All meals will be cooked fresh each day, using the best ingredients and freshest produce.  Portion sizes are appropriate to each child’s age/size.  We will have a homemade soup and roll option, Panini and toasted sandwich days and from time to time, ‘Special Themed Days’.  We will be continuing to hold ‘family lunch’ days when you can come along and try our menus with your child.  

We like children who are having school meals to stay for a complete week.  

From September 2022 school meals will cost £2.50 per day - £12.50 per week. Children are served water or juice with their meal.

1. Universal Free School Meals

At the moment all Reception, Year 1 and 2 children will qualify for Universal Free School Meals.  However, if your child is currently in receipt of 2Free School Meals, you must renew your application as normal ready for September; all other children will qualify automatically.

Our menus run on a four week cycle and the dates for each menu are detailed below:

Please click on the links below to view the menus:

Menu 1

Menu 2

Menu 3

Menu 4

 3. Healthy Packed Lunch - from home

Please use plastic containers (not bottles). We prefer children to drink from a cup or through a straw (not straight from a bottle). Please ensure packed lunches are healthy. Fizzy drinks and sweets are not allowed in school. A small chocolate bar is appropriate for lunchtime.
If your child stays at school for a school meal or a packed lunch then she/he will dine in the school hall with other children from the class and with children from three other classes. Children sit a table with their friends, including children who may be older and younger. Children chat, find out about each other and learn to care for each other.  

         WE ARE A NUT FREE SCHOOL, PLEASE CHECK THE CONTENTS OF YOUR CHILD’S PACKED LUNCH AND ENSURE THERE ARE NO NUT INGREDIENTS.

 The children are supervised by lunchtime supervisors and teachers.

4. Refreshments/Snacks

Milk and fruit is available to our youngest children (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) free of charge. We encourage all children to bring fruit to school for a snack during the day.