School Meals

It is the Authority’s policy to provide meals and facilities for the consumption of packed lunches in all schools. Pupils in primary schools are offered a two-course lunch with a choice of main course including vegetarian option, supplemented by salads and bread, which meet The Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008. A choice of milk or water is also included. Meals are, in the main, prepared from fresh ingredients by well trained personnel in a food safe environment.

There is a fixed, subsidised charge for a meal in a Primary school which is £2.15 (2021/22). School meal charges are subject to review at any time.

School meals should now be paid through ParentPay, our online payment solution with parents/carers having much more choice of how, when and where they can pay for school costs using modern technology. School meals, trips and other school related items can be paid for online, on a smartphone, tablet or other mobile devices. Parents/carers have the ability to access their own secure account which will give information regarding their accounts, including amount paid, when paid and amounts outstanding. It will also provide increased security for pupils who will no longer have to carry large amounts of cash or cheques to school.

ParentPay is our preferred method of payment, please contact the school for your ParentPay account activation code.

Medically prescribed diets and Nut and Peanut allergy

School lunches can be provided for children in primary schools either requiring a medically prescribed diet or who have a nut and/or peanut allergy. Please download the information leaflet and application form. Parents can also self-manage simple dietary requirements for their children by using the interactive menu and carbohydrate menu available at Tayside Contracts.

Medically prescribed diets can usually be accommodated within the school lunch service. A medically prescribed diet is one which has been prescribed by your GP or a hospital doctor. This does not include pupils who simply dislike certain foods. Written evidence from a doctor or registered dietician will be required prior to making special arrangements.

For more information on school meals including menus, meal photos and forms, please visit the website: http://www.pkc.gov.uk/schoolmeals

To access the current interactive menu which provides recipe, nutritional and allergy information, please visit:

www.tayside-contracts.co.uk/school-catering.cfm and click on the interactive menu link. This site also contains details of forthcoming promotions.

For any other enquiry please contact:

Catering Support Team

Support Services

Education & Children’s Services

Perth & Kinross Council

Council Building

2 High Street

Perth

PH1 5PH

Telephone: 01738 476341

E-mail: ECSCateringSupport@pkc.gov.uk

Packed lunches for trips

Packed lunches are available for school trips either free (as appropriate) or charged at the standard meal price. The school will normally ask if you require a packed lunch and offer choices as part of the trip registration process.

Free School Meals

Access to free school meals is an important part of the school meals service in Scotland. It is important that pupils entitled to free school meals get them without fear of stigmatisation. They should not be made to feel different from those who pay, nor be readily identified by others. Our meal payment and pre-order systems fully support these aims.

Who is Eligible for Free School Meals?

If your child is in P1 to P3

Free School Meals are offered to all pupils in P1 to P3 without the need for parents/carers to submit an application form. However, an application form must be completed if you also require a school clothing grant for your child in P1-P3.

Don't forget to submit an application form for Free School Meals for your child when he/she moves into P4 as they will no longer be automatically entitled to Free School Meals.

If your child is P4 or above

You can claim free school meals for your child(ren) if you are receiving:

Income Support (IS)
Income based Job Seeker's Allowance (IBJSA)
Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance (IRESA)
Child Tax Credit (CTC), but not Working Tax Credit, and your income is less than £16,105
Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Working Tax Credit (WTC) and your income is less than £7,330
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Universal Credit where the monthly earned income does not exceed £610

If you are between 16 and 18 years old and receive any of these benefits in your own right, you can claim free school meals for yourself.

For more information on Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit visit the Inland Revenue website.

You can apply online for free school meals at the following link: www.pkc.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals

Alternatively, application forms may be obtained from Headteachers or Education & Children’s Services, Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, PERTH, PH1 5GD.