Lunchtimes at School
Our aim is to encourage as many pupils as possible across the school to have a nutritious cooked school meal, a provision we are very proud of as % currently are having hot meals.
The Lunchtime Experience
The school is committed to providing a welcoming dining environment that encourages positive social and cultural interactions between all of our pupils.
We are also committed to
- Promoting good table manners
- Encouraging children to wash their hands before eating
- Providing active help for children (particularly young children) who find the physical process of school dinners or packed lunch difficult, for example carrying trays or opening tubs and packets
- Encouraging all children to eat the food they have been provided with
- Equal treatment of children having school dinners and packed lunches, in terms of provision and supervision
- Providing water for everyone
ABM
As from September 2025 we are in a new catering contract with ABM. Meals are freshly cooked each day, on-site in the school kitchens.
Our chef manager and his team strive to create tasty, nutritionally balanced and culturally diverse dishes that also meet the strict healthy eating, animal welfare and food standards established by the government – meals to stimulate developing taste buds and young minds!
We are happy to introduce our operation account manager, Sue Perry with her welcome message.
If you have any concerns, queries or comments do not hesitate to contact Sue Perry via email to sperry@abmcatering.co.uk.
Pack Lunches
Most families at The Vineyard School choose for their children to have a hot school dinner. However, there is the option for children to bring in a packed lunch. We ask that the parents and carers who choose the packed lunch option for their children provide them with a healthy, well-balanced lunch. The NHS Change4life website provides tips and advice on this.
WE ARE A NUT FREE SCHOOL Any food item (snacks and packed lunches) brought in to school must be NUT FREE – we have members of staff and children on-site who suffer from severe nut allergies.
Dietary Requirements and Allergies
We believe that it is very important that every child can receive a balanced and wholesome meal irrespective of their dietary requirements. For this reason, ABM devised a procedure for special diets which ensures that their catering staff are provided with the knowledge and understanding of any specific dietary requirement and that an alternative menu can be provided where necessary.
It is very important that this special diet procedure is followed for every young person who has any food allergies or other medical requirements.
The special diet procedure and the link to our Special Diet request form. The Special Diet form must be completed for every young person with dietary requirements, by the family and returned to ABM Catering using the on-line portal, along with supporting medical evidence if requested.
Once completed, the ABM’s Menus and Diets department will create the Special Diet Menu. All information will be treated in confidence and in line with the General Data Protection Regulations.
Salad Bar
We provide a fresh salad bar alongside the main menu, with the catering team working hard to ensure that primary school favourites – such as juicy sweet peppers, tomatoes and cucumber – are available alongside new, mouth-watering combinations.
Fresh Bread
Fresh bread is baked daily, and served alongside the main menu and Salad Bar. Spencer and his team produce flavoured focaccia, ciabatta and flatbread alongside more traditional loaves. Delicious Fresh fruit platters are always available as an additional option to the day’s dessert.
Healthy Snacks at Breaktimes
We teach and promote healthy eating on the basis that a well-balanced diet can have a positive impact on children’s health, behaviour and achievement.
The suggested snacks from the policy include: apples and cheddar cheese, oatcakes and guacamole, wholemeal turkey and salad roll and much more. Please ensure you have read the policy and provide your child with a snack in line with our new policy.
WE ARE A NUT FREE SCHOOL Any food item (snacks and packed lunches) brought in to school must be NUT FREE – we have members of staff and children on-site who suffer from severe nut allergies.