School Meals

Lunch time is an integral part of our school day - where every child has time to socialise, enjoy a warm, nutritious meal, and be ready for afternoon learning.

' No child should go to school hungry' The Mayor of London

Primary school children in state-funded schools in London will get free school meals for the 2023/24 school year.

Therefore all children from Reception to Year 6 receive a free school meal this academic year.

To find out more about this initiative please click here

Lunches at MPS

Harrison Catering Services are our chosen supplier and manage the food at our school. Our menu choices are provided on a three-week rotation. Please do take a look below.

Every day we offer:

non-halal meat
halal meat
two vegetarian options.

No pork is served. Only organic milk, eggs, fruit and vegetables are used and the menu includes salads, fruit and milk.

We use Fish that is MSC compliant from sustainable sources and meat that is Red Tractor Farm assured. The menus are planned in partnership with the school team and in consultation with the school council. every meal provided is in line with the nutritional guidelines, thus ensuring the food provides a balanced meal to all the children.

If your child has a special diet due to medical or religious reasons please let the office team know. It is vital that the school is aware of any food allergies your child may have so we can adjust the menu for them. NB. We will need allergy certification from your doctor.

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3

The phasing out of packed lunches

All children from Day Care to Year 5 eat school lunches. All new children are expected to have lunches cooked at school. The practice of eating packed lunches ends at Marlborough in July 2024*. All school adults are invited to eat school lunches with the children and most do as the school lunches are great!

If your child is in Year 6 and does is important to make sure the lunchboxes that children bring to school provide a healthy, balanced lunch. This means plenty of foods that contain the nutrients that children need, and fewer foods that are high in sugar and saturated fat. Please also note we are a nut free school.

*There are very occasional exceptions which need to be agreed by the Head of School. These will be considered on a case by case basis.

Packing the lunchbox

If you are providing a packed lunch, a balanced packed lunch should contain:

Starchy foods. These are bread, rice, potatoes and pasta, and others.
Protein foods. These are meat, fish, eggs, beans and others.
A dairy item. This could be cheese or yoghurt.
Vegetables or salad, and a portion of fruit.

Starchy foods are a good source of energy, and should make up a third of the lunchbox. To prevent lunches becoming boring instead of sandwiches give your child bagels, pitta bread, wraps and baguettes. Use brown, wholemeal or seeded bread, not white bread.

Children often like food they can eat with their fingers, so chop up raw vegetables such as carrots or peppers, and give them cottage cheese to dip their vegetables in. Breadsticks and wholemeal crackers are great finger foods and they can be spread with low-fat soft cheese or eaten with reduced-fat cheddar and pickles.

Replace chocolate bars and cakes with fresh or dried fruit. Vary the fruit each day and get them to try new things, like kiwi or melon.

You could also make up a tasty fruit salad. Be inventive and encourage your children when they try something new.

Snacks

Marlborough Primary School is a healthy school. All children are given fruit or vegetables each day at morning break funded through a government scheme up to Year 2. In Key Stage 2, our school funds the fruit snack.

We ask that any snacks provided for After School Clubs are healthy and follow the guidelines above. We thank you for not providing sweets, crisps, any form of nuts. Gum is prohibited at MPS.

Breakfast at MPS

All children and staff are welcome to enjoy a bagel on their way into school for breakfast. We offer a gluten free/diary free option each day.