Andrew Webb, Corporate Director, Children & Young People, says, "Starting Primary School for the first time is an important and exciting step for your child(ren). We'd like to make sure that every child feels both welcome and cared for throughout the school day, which is why 'Deano and the Dinermites', our school meals mascots would like to invite your child to join them at lunchtime in Deano's Diners".

We all know that a balanced and nutritious diet is essential to the health of a growing child and that finding the right balance in a packed lunch can be difficult, time consuming and expensive.

Our experienced and fully trained catering staff can support you in caring for your child(ren) by following national nutritional guidelines to design a healthy and tempting menu.

Special Dietary Requirements
If your child has any special dietary needs, please speak to the Cook in your child's school who will arrange an appointment for you with the Area Manager to discuss a suitable menu for your child. At present we have special menus to cater for children with diabetes, peanut allergies and coeliacs.

What are the benefits of having a school meal?
Surveys show children enjoy our meals
Children choose from a variety of dishes
Healthy eating policy contributes to a balanced diet
Our meals are freshly prepared by trained staff
Option of vegetarian meals, salads and fresh fruit
Lively meal times with friends improve children's social skills
Meals save parents time and effort preparing a packed lunch
Excellent value for money at £1.60
A well fed child is more receptive to afternoon classes
Lunches can be paid for in advance
Special diets are catered for

Did You Know….?
Your Child's health is always our main concern and in order to ensure they remain healthy and happy, we:

• Provide fresh fruit and fruit juice daily
• Only use semi-skimmed milk
• Oven bake or grill all foods except chips
• Only use wholegrain rice in our recipes
• Use low sugar baked beans and sugar free jelly
• Do not use mechanically recovered meat
• Only use vegetable oil or polyunsaturated margarine in our cooking
• Include a minimum of one vegetable daily
• Offer filled jacket potatoes daily, as an alternative to the main course
• Have ‘four item’ salads available daily
• Organise various theme days through the school year
• Provide on going training for all our staff in good food hygiene practices in relation to current food hygiene regulations
• Meet the requirements of the Government’s Nutritional Guidelines for School Meals
• Cater for vegetarians and special dietary requirements
• Use high quality, branded products from reputable suppliers
• Provide menus offering a choice of main meal and desserts daily