Food in School

Free Breakfast for Every Child

We are proud to provide a free breakfast for all pupils.

Each morning, children can access toast free of charge, helping to ensure they start the school day nourished, settled and ready to learn. This provision is available to all pupils and reflects our commitment to equity, wellbeing and removing barriers to learning. In addition, fresh fruit is available during the school day, helping to promote healthy eating habits and positive food choices.

Breakfast Club

As well as our universal free breakfast provision, we offer a supervised Breakfast Club for families who require childcare before the start of the school day.

Children attending Breakfast Club can enjoy:

• Toast and fresh fruit
• Calm, structured routines
• Opportunities to socialise with friends
• A positive start to the school day

All food provided is managed in line with our food safety, allergy management and hygiene procedures.

For information about Breakfast Club times, costs and bookings, please contact the school office or book a place on our Arbor app. 

Wraparound Care

Florence Melly Community Primary School also offers a paid Wraparound Care service to support working families.

Our Wraparound provision provides a safe, nurturing environment before and after school and includes healthy snacks that:

• Reflect School Food Standards
• Support healthy eating habits
• Take account of allergies and dietary requirements
• Are supervised by trained staff

Children also enjoy a range of enriching activities, including our popular Tasty Thursday sessions, where they can explore cooking, nutrition and food preparation in a safe and enjoyable way. 

For further information about Wraparound Care, including booking arrangements and charges, please contact the school office or book a place on our Arbor app. 

Healthy Snacks

Children may bring one healthy snack for break time.

Suitable snacks include:

• Fresh fruit
• Fresh vegetables
• Plain breadsticks
• Plain rice cakes
• Healthy cereal bars

The following items should not be brought into school:

• Chocolate bars
• Sweets
• Crisps
• Cakes, biscuits or pastries
• Sugary cereal bars
• Fizzy drinks
• Energy drinks

These expectations help support children’s health, concentration and wellbeing during the school day. 

Packed Lunches

If your child brings a packed lunch, we ask that it contains a balanced selection of healthy foods.

We recommend including:

• A sandwich, wrap, roll, pasta or rice-based item
• At least one portion of fruit or vegetables
• A dairy item or suitable dairy alternative
• Water or juice
• A healthy dessert or treat

Packed lunches must not include:

• Nuts or nut-containing products
• Chocolate bars
• Sweets
• Fizzy drinks
• Energy drinks
• Large cakes or sugary desserts

We work closely with families to promote healthy choices and ensure all food brought into school supports our healthy eating ethos. 

We Are a Nut-Free School

The safety of our children is our highest priority.

Florence Melly Community Primary School is a nut-free school. To help protect pupils and staff with severe allergies:

• Nuts and nut-containing products must not be brought onto the school site.
• This includes packed lunches, snacks, celebration food and food brought for events.
• Parents and carers are asked to check ingredient labels carefully before sending food into school.

Whilst we take every reasonable precaution, we rely on the support of our whole school community to help maintain a safe environment.

Allergy Safety

We are committed to ensuring that pupils with allergies can participate fully and safely in all aspects of school life.

Our allergy arrangements include:

• Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs)
• Staff training in allergy awareness and anaphylaxis response
• Emergency Adrenaline Auto-Injectors (AAIs) held in school
• Close partnership working with families and healthcare professionals
• Careful management of allergens within school meals and activities
• Risk assessments for educational visits, events and food-related activities

We also teach children about allergy awareness, inclusion and the importance of keeping one another safe.

What to do if your child has a food allergy or specific, individual dietary requirements…

Please contact the school office and make an appointment if you would like to discuss any allergen issues or individual dietary requirements your child may have.  We will do our absolute best to cater for all individuals. 

Food Safety and Choking Prevention

To help keep all children safe, please ensure food is prepared appropriately before being brought into school.

Examples include:

• Grapes and olives should be cut lengthways.
• Cherry tomatoes should be cut appropriately.
• Hard foods such as apples and carrots should be sliced into thin strips.
• Stones and pips should be removed from fruit.

The following items must not be brought into school due to choking risks:

• Popcorn
• Marshmallows
• Jelly cubes
• Hard sweets

Children are always supervised whilst eating and staff are trained to support safe eating practices.