Around 22,000 meals are served every day in East Sussex maintained (state funded) schools. Most schools in the county have a kitchen where meals are freshly prepared. A small number of schools have meals transported in from another school.
Primary schools
All food provided by local authorities must meet national nutritional standards. These ensure that children are provided with a healthy, balanced diet.
We have been working with Chartwells to create a range of school meals that meet these standards, as well as the Government's new nutritional standards for 2008, making us one of the first local authorities to achieve this standard.
We offer a variety of red meat and poultry dishes, omega-3 rich oily fish, rice, pasta, and offer more choice of fresh fruit, vegetables and salads. We have also reduced the fat, sugar and salt content in school meals.
Payment of school dinner money
School meals are usually paid for each day at the service counter but this varies in some schools. Please check the system operated at your school. Some schools are now offering an online payment and booking system using ParentPay, please ask your school for more information. If you are paying at the school office for school meals, please make cheques payable to Compass Services UK Ltd.
We cannot provide your child with a meal unless payment has been received in advance or made on the day your child requires a meal. For any queries regarding payment of dinner money please speak to, the cook at your school or email Chartwells.
School fruit and vegetable scheme
The scheme covers all four to six year old children in maintained schools. It entitles these children to a free piece of fresh fruit or vegetable every school day.
The scheme aims to encourage children to eat more fruit and vegetables and contribute to a reduction in the risk of heart disease and cancer in later life. The scheme is run by the Department of Health, and any CSA-maintained school can choose to take part.
For further information contact your school or visit the NHS Choices website.
School milk schemes
Primary schools in East Sussex can take part in one or more of the following milk schemes. Talk to your child's school to find out if they are taking part. Each scheme provides one third of a pint of whole or semi-skimmed milk every school day:
- Under-fives milk scheme
Provides free milk for every child under five who attends school for more than two hours per day.
- Over-fives milk scheme
Provides milk at a subsidised rate for children aged five to 11.
- Medical milk scheme
Provides milk for pupils where it has been medically prescribed.
Secondary schools and community colleges
Secondary schools and community colleges offer pupils a choice of set menus and a range of hot and cold food and drinks through the school cafeteria.
A number of schools and colleges in East Sussex receive their meals service through East Sussex County Council, in partnership with Chartwells. To find which schools and colleges are involved, and to download the menus on offer, go to our page on secondary school meal menus.
Our policy on school meals
We aim to:
- provide as a minimum level of service a hot two course meal to all pupils, and to meet the needs of pupils requiring vegetarian meals and special diets dictated by ethnic, cultural and religious beliefs
- where practical, tailor menus for pupils with medically prescribed diets
- offer a service that will consistently provide a high culinary standard, using good quality ingredients and maintaining an excellent level of presentation
- ensure that menus meet Government nutritional standards:
Nutrition and school lunches – DirectGov
- ensure that meal times are an enjoyable and comfortable social activity, and to treat our pupil customers courteously.
Nut allergies
We don't intentionally use any products that contain nuts or nut by-products in our primary school menus. Current labelling regulations mean we can't declare nut free status. For further information, see the 'contact us' section below.
Contact us
If you want to make a comment about school meals in East Sussex, please contact the Food Advisory Service.
For any queries about primary school meals, contact Chartwells:
Phone: 01435 865310
Email Chartwells
East Sussex Dine at School website
East Sussex County Council