School Meals
Meals served at Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy are cooked on the premises by Caterlink. Healthy eating is encouraged by the provision of high fibre foods and low sugar options. Children are also welcome to bring in a packed lunch from home too.
Food Intolerances & Allergies
If a child has a known food intolerance e.g. gluten, or an allergy to a specific food e.g. nuts, it is vital the school is kept informed. In the first instance parents should speak to the school office staff who will ensure that the child’s information is circulated to the necessary staff and the school cook.
It can also be arranged for the parent to speak to the school cook as in most cases she is able to cater for a child’s specific needs without them requiring a totally different meal to the other children.
It is also important that all staff are aware of any intolerances/allergies as the child may be involved in cooking or an activity involving food during the school day.
IMPORTANT: We are a nut free school
Paying for School Meals
ParentMail
At Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy we use ParentMail for your convenience to pay for your child’s school meals or after school provision. If you wish to use this service please give the office your current email address and they will send you registration information
Log in: https://pmx.parentmail.co.uk/#core/login
Help Site: https://parentmail.co.uk/help/parenthelp/
Benefits of using the ParentMail App:
- You don’t need to login to pick up messages or attachments when you use the App.
- The App stores all the messages we send you in one place.
- Every message sent arrives as an instant alert on your mobile.
- You help save us money!
Download the app for free from:
Applying for Free School Meals
If you think your child is eligible to benefit from pupil premium funding and to receive Free School Meals please apply directly via the Suffolk County Council website.
Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM)
All infant pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 are eligible for Universal Infants Free School Meals.
If you receive benefits and your child gets Universal Infant Free School Meals you should still apply online for Free School Meals. This will allow our school to receive extra funding that could support your child.
You can apply for Universal Infant Free School Meals as soon as your child’s place at school is confirmed.
FAQ’s
Your child will get free school meals if you receive any of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit but no element of Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenues & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
- If you are supported under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after your employment finishes or after you start to work fewer hours per week
- Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 (£616.67 per month), as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods).
To check if your child is eligible, apply online for an immediate response or call Suffolk County Council on 0345 606 6067 for advice.
If you have not been allocated a school place for your child yet, please wait for confirmation of this place before you apply for free school meals.
If your child is eligible for and has been registered to receive free school meals between 1 April 2018 and the end of the rollout of Universal Credits (currently expected to be March 2024), they will remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they are in at the end of Universal Credits rollout. This is regardless of any change to your circumstances.
If your child is attending a nursery school:
- they must be in a maintained school nursery as a registered pupil at the school
- your child must be in receipt of education before and after lunch on the same day
- you must be in receipt of a qualifying benefit (as described below)
- you should apply online by clicking the blue button below.
