Catering

Catering (Provided by Innovate)

We all know how important eating healthy food is during the school day and how it impacts both attainment and behaviour of pupils.  Research consistently shows that when students eat a balanced meal with at least 2 portions of fruit or veg, protein and carbohydrate they are more engaged and maintained higher levels of concentration throughout the afternoon. Innovate Catering provide pupils with access to bread and salad every day and there is no added sugar or salt, no confectionary or chocolate and no high sugar drinks served. They also ensure there is ample choice for vegetarians and those with special dietary requirements and offer a fantastic array of mains and desserts while fresh fruit, salad and delicious pasta are always available. 

Only the highest quality produce

Everything has to start with fantastic quality and responsible food. Innovate Catering buy seasonal British produce, farm assured meat, Fairtrade coffee and chocolate, and fish from sustainable stocks. Our sourcing strategy always considers quality, location and welfare; meaning that our customers enjoy high-quality fresh food. They have also adopted the European Chicken Commitment across our entire supply chain and will be working with our suppliers to meet all the standards in it by 2026. Across their wide, diverse and ever-changing menus, they ensure that every single morsel is safe, sustainable and tastes great. We only source from farmers, wholesalers and catering butchers that are audited to UKAS accredited standards and meet the highest possible assurance levels. 

Paying for school meals

BFS is a cashless school.  Payments for trips, resources and meals are made via ParentPay.  When you join the school you will be issued with a log in and password.  Only one ParentPay account is required even if you have more than one child in our school. Continue to read the information below to find out more about Free School Meals and getting help.

If you have any queries or need further information or assistance with ParentPay, please contact finance via finance@bedfordfreeschool.co.uk or on 01234 332285

Catering Menu & Tariff

FREE SCHOOL MEALS

Some children attending Bedford Borough schools may be eligible for free school meals. The child must attend a school in Bedford Borough, although may live outside the local authority.

Who is eligible for free school meals?

Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:

  • Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods) 
  • 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 guarantee element of Pension Credit 
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you’re 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 four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal when a claim for the meal has been made on their behalf and their eligibility, or protected status, has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority.

Transactional protection

In addition, the following pupils will be protected against losing their free school meals as follows:

  • Since 1 April 2018, all existing free school meals claimants have continued to receive free school meals whilst Universal Credit is rolled out. This applies even if their earnings rise above the threshold during that time. 
  •  Any pupil gaining eligibility for free school meals after 1 April 2018 will be protected against losing free school meals until March 2025. 
  •  After March 2025, any existing claimants that no longer meet the eligibility criteria at that point (because they are earning above the threshold or are no longer a recipient of Universal Credit) will continue to receive free school meals until the end of their current phase of education (i.e. primary or secondary).

How to apply for free school meals

Apply for free school meals | Bedford Borough Council

If you are not contacted by the school or the free school meals administrator within three weeks of the application you can assume your application is unsuccessful.

Extra help and support available

https://bedford.foodbank.org.uk/