School meals

School meals give you peace of mind that your child receives a healthy, fresh and nutritious meal at lunchtime. Some other benefits are:

meals are packed full of goodness, with at least two of your child’s five-a-day
regular consumption of school dinners is shown to improve educational attainment
they save you time, with no shopping for sandwiches or making packed lunches
they help to develop your children’s social skills and table manners

Unless your child qualifies for free school meals, or is an infant-age pupil in reception, year 1 or year 2, you'll have to pay for their school lunch.

How much school meals cost

In primary schools the school lunch consists of a two course meal. The cost is set by the school and their governing body, so meal prices can vary from school to school.

In secondary schools pupils can choose from extensive menus and cost effective meal deals to suit their pocket, in addition to the standard two course meal. Some schools also have a breakfast service and a morning break service. All secondary schools offer a range of meal deals and other items are individually priced.

Contact your child’s school or visit their website to find out how much they charge for school meals.

Specialist diets

If your child needs a specialist diet because they have a medical condition, food intolerance, or for cultural or ethical reasons, let their school know so that they can provide for them appropriately. Just ask your child’s dietitian or doctor to write a letter to the school.

Catering options for schools

Schools manage their own budgets, so they decide how they’ll provide school meals for their pupils. They may either:

buy a fully managed service from Barnsley Schools Catering Service
buy a fully managed service from a private catering company
manage their own kitchen and employ their own catering staff

Contact your child’s school or visit their website for full details of their menu options.