At Micklem Primary School we have an excellent catering team who provide high-quality food for our children. There is a Hot (meat), Vegetarian, Jacket Potato and Sandwich option for them to choose from every day.

Our cook can also cater for special dietary needs. Please see below for details of how to apply for a special dietary needs menu.

Please find attached the current menu which shows all the options available. The cost of a school meal is £3.60 per day. If you wish your child to have school meals, then please top up your child's Arbor 'Meals' account in advance.

Your child can, of course, bring their own packed lunch from home if they wish to do so. Please see below for our guidance on packed lunches.

Special Dietary Requirements 

Our school meals are provided by Herts Catering Ltd, who have a rigorous process in place to provide a safe meal service to pupils with food allergies or intolerances in our school.

If your child has a food allergy or intolerance and meets the qualifying criteria, then they have a range of delicious and nutritious menus designed especially for your child’s medical requirements.

The online account system takes just minutes to create and complete and is really easy to use. You will need at hand:

• Your child’s school details, including class name
• Medical evidence of your child’s medical requirements
• Electronic Passport style photograph (which you will need to upload on to our system)


• To apply, simply go to https://specialmenu.hcl.co.uk

  Once you have created your account, you will be able to easily update the school and HCL with any changes to your child’s dietary needs in the future and will automatically receive new menus when they change (twice yearly).

Packed Lunches

Children are able to bring packed lunches into school if they wish to do so, but please be reminded that peanut butter or chocolate spread cannot be used as a sandwich filling as some of our pupils have serious allergies and this could trigger a severe reaction. Also, if your child brings grapes into school, please send them into school already cut in half lengthways, as these are a choking hazard.

We encourage children to have healthy snacks whilst in school and ask that you follow this by providing your child with a healthy packed lunch. This includes no sweets or chocolate bars please. Cans, glass bottles and fizzy drinks are also not allowed.

FSM

How do I know if I can apply for Free School Meals?

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be £7,400 a year or less (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:

• younger than the compulsory age for starting school
• in full-time education

From the start of academic year 2026 to 2027, your child will qualify for free school meals if you get Universal Credit, regardless of household income.

How can I apply for Pupil Premium?

You can find further details of how to access the Pupil Premium via this link:

https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/schools-and-education/at-school/free-school-meals/free-school-meals.aspx