Cooked meals are prepared on the premises and offer the children a wide variety of healthy foods. There is a vegetarian choice each day. The meals are eaten in the hall, and the current cost is £2.60 a day or £13.00 a week. To help with administration all dinner money is paid via school gatesway.
Information and forms about free school meals can be obtained from Gateshead Council here.
Children can bring their own packed lunches. They are eaten alongside the children taking cooked meals in the hall. We ask that food is transported in plastic containers and for safety reasons, we do not allow hot liquids in flasks. As part of our healthy school programme, we also ask that children do not bring chocolate or fizzy drinks.
We do not allow the eating of sweets at school. Children in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 receive a free piece of fruit or vegetable each day as part of the government’s national scheme. Children in Key Stage 2 may bring fruit to eat at playtime. A Healthy Tuck Shop is available for them and fruit costs 20p.
Nut Free School
Here at Dunston Hill Community Primary School, we encourage children who stay for a packed lunch to eat a nutritious lunch in order to stay healthy. Our Packed Lunch Policy has been developed by drawing on key government guidance associated with healthy eating and the school day.
We are aware that some children in our school have allergies to nuts generally and peanuts specifically and that they could become very ill not only by coming into contact with nuts but also with people who may have touched or eaten nuts themselves. Therefore, and as far as possible, Dunston Hill Community Primary School aims to be a “nut-free school” and would respectfully request that parents and carers do not include any nuts or nut products in packed lunches provided for their children.
Free School Meals
Your child, or children, may qualify for free school meals if you are able to meet the following criteria:
You or your partner must have a child or children for whom you receive child benefit who is in full-time education, under 19 years of age and who attends a local authority school or sixth form.
You and your partner must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA – IB)
- Guarantee Pension Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA Income Related)
- Child Tax Credit – but not Working Tax Credit – and your income for Tax
- Credit purposes must be less than £16,190.00 (details are shown on your Tax Credit award notice)
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
How to apply
If this applies to you, please complete our free school meals application form and return it to the address shown.
If you satisfy the requirements for your child/children to receive free school meals and submit the information required over the page, the school will be informed of this, and free meals will be available immediately.
Parents can be sure that pupils who receive a free school meal are not singled out in any way.
If you stop receiving one of the qualifying benefits; or you stop being responsible for the child/children concerned; or your Tax Credit entitlement changes, you MUST inform the Council’s Benefit Section immediately.
Tel: 0191 433 3729 Email: benefitenquiries@gateshead.gov.uk