Lunchtime

Lakelands Academy has an excellent dining room, serving food at both mid-morning break and lunchtime.

Food on offer allow students to pick their own sandwich filling from our colourful salad bar. There are regular favourites, such as sweet and savoury snacks, served hot or cold, through to a 2 course main and dessert hot meal deals which menu is varied from day to day. Our caterers fully comply with food nutrition regulations and are compliant with current allergen controls. We urge parents/carers to encourage their child/children to remain in school for lunch. Students who prefer a packed lunch can bring these into school and will be eaten in our spacious, purpose-built social dining area.

Each student has their own school meal account which parents/carers can top-up by going online and download the ParentPay app. Meal accounts are expected to be conducted in credit at all times.

 

Click here to go to your Parent Pay Account


Students may remain indoors during the mid-morning and lunchtime breaks. There are many lunchtime clubs and societies run by staff, as well as an excellent resources area, which is open at both breaks for students to use.  During the mid-morning break the canteen provides hot and cold snacks and refreshments for students.

Other Lunchtime Arrangements

If it is necessary for a student to go home for his/her lunch, then we do insist that they return directly to school in good time for afternoon registration before lessons begin. The school requires a letter from parents/carers whose children are to go home for lunch and a small card will be issued to the student to prove that permission has been obtained. The school cannot allow students to leave the site for any other reason. This policy has the full support of the Governing Body, parents and the Ellesmere community. This policy enables us to ensure that students are properly supervised during the lunchtime break. 

 

Autumn Term Lunch Rota

Free School Meals

Recent figures show that in some Shropshire schools as many as 45% of families are failing to claim their entitlement to free school meals. Claiming free school meals is a simple, straightforward process and it is a right, not a privilege. Free school meals offer variety, are tasty and nutritious and can help your child maintain a healthy balanced diet. 

Lakelands operates a cashless system for school meals which means that students entitled to free school meals can do so confidentially.  

Please click here to apply online or alternatively application forms are available from reception. If you would like any further information, have any questions, or would like help to complete an application form, please contact the school reception and we will be pleased to offer assistance.

Free school meals is a benefit awarded in respect of children under the age of 19 where the parent, carer or guardian is in receipt of any of the following:   

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
  • Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get) 

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent, carer or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:

If you do not qualify for most benefits (also known as having ‘no recourse to public funds’), your child may still be eligible for free school meals. Please ask at reception or Shropshire local authority whether they are eligible.

If your child has transferred schools within the Shropshire Council local authority area and is in receipt of benefits-related free school meals, you do not need to apply - the entitlement automatically transfers to the new school. For children who have transferred to a Shropshire Council local authority school from an out-of-area school within England, and are in receipt of government (benefit-related) free school meals, please contact Shropshire Council regarding your free school meals claim; email: fsm@shropshire.gov.uk or telephone 0345 678 9008.