School meal policy
We work with Chartwells to serve 15,000 meals each day. 95% of meals are made fresh at schools with kitchens. If a school doesn't have a kitchen, the meals are made at another school and then brought over.
All food follows the Government’s School Food Standards - GOV.UK. This means we provide healthy, balanced meals at a fair price. These meals help provide your child with about one-third of the daily nutrition they need.
Our school meal policy
We will:
- Give all students a hot, freshly made two-course meal at a low price.
- Make special meals for vegetarians and those with other beliefs and values.
- Prepare special menus for students with medical diets.
- Follow the Government School Food Standards.
- Make the lunch area welcoming so that eating is a fun part of the school day.
- Treat all students with respect.
- Have a menu with lots of choices for everyone.
- Offer fruit and yoghurt twice a week.
- Give fresh bread with every meal.
- Only serve fried food once a week.
- Have three desserts with fruit each week.
- Give students water or milk every day.
Medical diets
Medical diets shouldn’t stop children from enjoying nutritious and tasty school lunches with their friends. We cater for many medical dietary needs:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Milk-free for lactose intolerance
- Gluten-free for coeliac disease
- Carbohydrate counts for diabetics
We can provide meals for children with one or more allergies or intolerances to the 14 EU allergens:
- Gluten
- Crustaceans
- Eggs
- Fish
- Peanuts
- Soybeans
- Milk
- Nuts
- Celery
- Mustard
- Sesame
- Sulphur dioxide/sulphites
- Lupin
- Molluscs (like clams or snails)
If your child needs a special menu for medical reasons, please fill out a Medical Diet Request Form. You can email Compass - Special Diets or get the form from your child’s school office. You will also need a letter from your doctor or dietitian.
A nutritionist will look at your request and send you a menu for consent. You must sign and return the menu before your child can access this service.
Nut allergies
Regulations mean we cannot declare nut-free status. However, we don't knowingly use any nuts or nut products in our primary school menus. Contact us for further information.
Universal Infant Free School Meals
Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) - GOV.UK is a programme by the UK government that gives money to schools. It can provide free meals to all children in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2. This funding is decided on three census days during the school year. Your school or academy will tell you when these days are.
School meal menus
To see the menu at your child’s school, please visit the school’s website.
Paying for school meals
You can pay for your child's school meals online using ParentPay or a top-up card. If your school doesn't use ParentPay, you can pay with cash or cheques. Make cheques payable to 'Compass Services UK Ltd.'
We can't give your child a meal without:
- Paying in advance
- Paying on the day your child needs a meal.
If you have questions about payment, ask your school or email the Chartwells Regional Manager.
The cost of a meal for KS2 is £2.97, and for secondary schools, it's £3.12 (as of 1st September 2024).
School fruit and vegetable scheme
All children aged four to six in maintained schools get a free piece of fresh fruit or vegetable each school day.
The 5-a-day scheme (NHS) promotes healthy eating and reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer in later life. It's run by the Department of Health and is open to any CSA-maintained school.
School milk schemes
Primary schools in East Sussex can join one or more of these milk programmes. Ask your child’s school if they are part of them.
- Under-fives milk scheme
Gives free milk to every child under five who is at school for over two hours per day.
- Over-fives milk scheme
Provides subsidised milk for children aged 5 to 11. - Medical milk scheme
Provides milk for pupils if it’s been medically prescribed.
Contact us
To comment about school meals in East Sussex, contact:
Contracts Management Team – Schools
Property Delivery, Business Services Department
County Hall,
St Anne’s Crescent
Lewes
BN7 1UE
Telephone: 07724701810
Email: East Sussex Catering Manager
For questions about primary school meals, contact Chartwells:
Telephone: 01435 862848
Email: Chartwells Regional Manager
Website: Chartwells school catering company
Help your family be healthier and happier by eating well and moving more: Change4life - NHS
Free School Meals
Ways to qualify for free school meals
Universal infant free school meals
All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 are entitled to free meals regardless of household income. You don’t need to apply. See GOV.UK - Universal infant free school meals.
Targeted free school meals
Eligible pupils are from households who:
- get Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
- get support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- get Income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the guarantee element of Pension Credit
- are families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
Children on targeted free school meals will be eligible for Pupil Premium and the Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF). They may also qualify for school travel assistance.
Expanded free school meals (new from September 2026)
Pupils from households that receive Universal Credit. They will only receive free school meals and no other support or funding.
If your child goes to one of the East Sussex academies listed below, contact the school to apply for free school meals.
Ark Alexandra
Ark Blacklands
Ark Castledown
Ark Little Ridge
Breakwater
Hawkes Farm
High Cliff
Hollington
Peacehaven Heights
Telscombe Cliffs
Thornton Grove
White House
Out of county schools
If your child attends a school outside of East Sussex (including Brighton & Hove), please contact the school to apply for free meals.
Eligibility rechecks
Eligibility will be checked annually. The checked result is valid for the full academic year.
Contact the Free School Meals team
Email: free school meals queries
Phone: 0300 330 9472 (10 am to 3 pm)