All schools provide a midday meal for any pupil who wants one. Primary school pupils generally pay for meals at the start of the week. All school meals are prepared using high quality, locally sourced seasonal produce and staff receive continuous training around health and nutritions. All our meals meet and often exceed the government guidelines.

Our healthy meals include

• Fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables
• Salad bar as an optional extra
• Oily fish served at least once in the two week menu
• No more than 2 deep fried items per week
• Vegetarian choices / Halal / Special diets (as per the requirements of each school)
• Wholemeal or assorted freshly baked bread without spread
• Low salt, Low sugar, high fibre products

Kirklees School Catering Service holds the Food for Life Bronze Catering Mark Award which means in addition to the above all menus:

• Contain no undesirable food additives
• Have at least 75% freshly prepared dishes
• Use meat which meets the UK welfare standards and eggs are from cage-free hens

Throughout the year Kirklees Catering offer various themed events , allowing the students to experience lunch time with a difference and try new foods. We often link these events to what is happening both inside and outside the school environment, such as the Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics, bonfire night, Chinese New Year and many more.

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Primary and middle schools

Primary and middle schools serve a fully inclusive 2 course meal at a set price:

• Primary school or middle school meal: £1.85
• Primary and middle schools: My school lunch: School menus (external site)

Our primary schools have the pleasure of regular visits from our mascot Munch the school meals dragon who helps to educate the children around health eating and living.

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High schools

Most high schools have a food court called eat.in:

• eat.in (external site)

Students are able to choose from the following:

• a 2 course all inclusive meal at a set price:
  • High school meal: £2.00
• 3 different food bars selling fresh pasta with sauce, filled jacket potatoes, pizzas
• a sandwich bar selling hot and cold sandwiches from baguettes to bagels.

Who can receive free school meals

Children and young people who live in Kirklees who:

• attend full time at a local authority school or sixth form
• are under 19 years of age

and whose parents or carers receive one or more of the following:

• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit, but are not entitled to a Working Tax Credit and your annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) is less than £16,190
• Support under Part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

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Apply for free school meals

There are three easy ways to apply:

• Online: Free school meals application form
• Or phone 01484 221928
• Or complete a Free school meals application form (PDF 40kb) and send it to us or visit one of our customer service centres: Information points and centres

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How a school knows that your child receives free school meals

We send you a letter telling you the start and end date of your free school meal entitlement. A copy of this letter is sent to your child's school to let them know.

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If your child is going on a day trip with the school

The school is responsible for providing your child with a packed lunch to take with them.

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If you live in Bradford

If you and your child live in the Bradford district and your child attends a school in the Kirklees area, you should apply to Kirklees Council for free school meals.

Schools must provide facilities for pupils who bring packed meals. The headteacher may make rules for safety such as not allowing glass containers or hot liquids.

Milk is available free to all nursery pupils. It is also available free to pupils attending special schools who are eligible for free school meals. It is available to all other pupils attending special schools on payment of a termly fee.

Up to the end of year 2 at other schools, milk is available free to pupils on free school meals and to other pupils on payment of a termly fee.

Pupils who take part in the Milk in Schools Scheme benefit from a subsidy from the Intervention Board. This represents a significant reduction in the actual cost of milk.

Customer and Exchequer Services
1st floor North
Civic Centre 1
High Street
Huddersfield
HD1 2NF

Tel: 01484 221928
Email: freeschoolmeals@kirklees.gov.uk