Lunches, Milk & Snack
Hot Lunches
At Orchard View Primary Academy, we provide free hot school lunches as part of the Government's Universal Free School Lunches scheme for every pupil in Foundation Stage, Year 1 and Year 2.
Our catering provider is IFG Innovate. The food is cooked at The Kingsbrook School and it is delivered fresh each day. Please access the IFG Innovate website HERE to register an account and order lunches for your child.
The link below provides step by step guidance on how to order school meals through the IFG Innovate website:
Ordering school meals guidance
Any queries regarding ordering hot lunches should be directed to IFG Innovate:
Email: primary@impactfood.co.uk
Primary support team 8.30am - 5pm, Monday to Friday
Phone: 0204 542 7211
Customer support line 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday
Eligibility for Pupil Premium and Free School Meals
Families receiving Universal Credit and other benefits may be entitled to receive additional Pupil Premium funding (this is provided directly to the academy) and Free School Meals.
This funding is separate to the free school meals provided under the Government's Universal Free School Lunches scheme for pupils in Foundation Stage, Year 1 and 2 and it also applies to eligible pupils in KS2.
If you think your child may be eligible for Pupil Premium and Free School Meals funding, please complete the application form below and return it to the Academy Office. You can also request a paper copy of this form from the Academy office.
Free School Meals & Pupil Premium Application Form
Milk
You can order milk for your Foundation Stage/KS1 child to have each day by setting up an account with Cool Milk. Milk is free for under 5's and for any pupil eligible for Free School Meals/Pupil Premium funding.
You will be required to pay for your child to receive milk if your child is aged over 5 and they are not eligible for Free School Meals/Pupil Premium funding.
If you no longer wish for your child to receive milk, e.g. if they do not like it, then it is your responsibility to cancel the milk subscription through your account with Cool Milk. This is important in order to avoid unnecessary food wastage.
Healthy Packed Lunches
All pupils who opt out of hot meals, will need to bring in a packed lunch. All packed lunches must be healthy and nutritious,
The following food items are not permitted in packed lunches at Orchard View:
No sweets or chocolate bars 
- No fizzy drinks, energy drinks or squash
- No nuts, nut products or nut spreads (including spreads with hazelnuts)
What to Pack in a Healthy Lunchbox
Guidance from School Health UK on healthy packed lunches can be found here:
School Health UK - Packed Lunch Guidance
Additional ideas for healthy packed lunches can be found here:
Carbohydrates
Starchy foods will help your child feel satisfied, as well as being a good source of energy and B vitamins. Choose wholegrain or higher fibre versions with less added fat, salt and sugar. Why not try some of these suggestions?
- 2 slices of bread
- 2 small bread rolls
- 1 tortilla wrap
- 1 or 2 mini pitta breads
- 1 scone or currant bun
- 1 bagel
- 2 tablespoons of cooked rice, pasta or couscous
- A slice of deep pan pizza – choose one with a vegetable or fruit topping, such as pineapple, sweetcorn or peppers
Fruit and Vegetables
Help your child get their 5 a day by putting two portions of fruit and vegetables in their lunchbox (ideally one fruit and one vegetable).
A portion could be:
- 1 medium sized piece of fruit, e.g. apple, orange, banana, pear
- 2 small fruits, e.g. kiwi fruits, satsumas, plums
- 1 cup of grapes, cherries or berries
- 1 large slice of pineapple or melon
- 1 heaped tablespoon of dried fruit, e.g. raisins, or 3 dried apricots (this should be part of lunch rather than a snack because of its high natural sugar content)
- 1 cereal size bowl of salad, e.g. lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and celery
- 3 heaped tablespoons of fresh or frozen veg, e.g. chopped, sliced or grated carrots, peppers, or sweetcorn
- 150ml of pure unsweetened fruit juice or fruit smoothie
- 3 heaped tablespoons of fruit salad (fresh or tinned in fruit juice) or stewed fruit
For younger children (4–6 years), reduce these portion sizes by about half, then increase the amount as they grow. Older primary school children should be eating full portions.
Dairy and Alternatives
Make sure your child is getting enough calcium by putting one of these in their lunchbox or alternatively order milk for your child to receive in school.
- a container/mini-carton of milk (200ml)
- a pot of yogurt, custard or rice pudding
- a matchbox-sized piece of cheese such as cheddar or edam
- 2 triangles of spreadable cheese
Did you know? Low fat milk, cheese and yogurt still has the same amount of calcium as full fat versions, which support growing bones and teeth.
Beans, Pulses, Fish, Eggs, Meat and Other Proteins
Protein is essential to help your child grow. You should include one of the following in your child’s lunchbox:
- 2 slices of cooked meat
- 2 slices of chicken or turkey breast
- 1–2 eggs (hard-boiled, sliced or mashed)
- half a small can of tuna, salmon, mackerel or sardines
- 2 tablespoons of chickpea spread, e.g, hummus – try it as a dip with carrots/celery
- A small handful of mixed beans or pulses
Try to include a portion of fish at least once a week. Remember to remove any bones and choose tinned fish in spring water, rather than in brine or oil.
Did you know? Sliced processed meats are higher in salt than meat you have cooked yourself. Why not use leftovers from dinner the night before?
Reducing Choking Risks in Young Children
At Orchard View, we follow the Food Standards Agency advice for children aged 5 and under.
Children can choke on food at any age, but the risks are higher in children under 5 years. The guidelines below will help you identify high risk foods that can cause choking and ways to make foods safer for children under 5 years.
We will not allow pupils to eat a food that has not been prepared correctly or is safe for pupils aged 5 and under to eat:
Snacks
All FS/KS1 pupils are provided with a free piece of fruit or veg as a healthy snack each day.
Should you wish to provide your own fruit or veg snack, please place this in your child's book bag in a suitable, sealed container.
KS2 pupils will need to bring in their own snack if required, which must be a piece of fruit or vegetable (no other snacks are permitted in the academy).
