School meals

We work with Chartwells to serve 15,000 meals each day. 95% of meals are made fresh at the schools that have 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 and balanced meals that cost a fair price. These meals help to give your child about one-third of the nutrition they need each day.

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 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 so they 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, or

- Paying on the day your child needs a meal.

If you have questions about payment, ask your school or email 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

Infant Free School Meals

Your child gets free school meals if they’re in Reception, Year 1, or Year 2. You do not need to apply for them.

If you get certain benefits, you should apply so the school gets extra money. This will also make sure your child keeps getting free meals from Year 3.

Contact details

Email: free school meals queries
Phone: 0300 330 9472 (10 am to 3 pm)

Children in Year 3 and older

Children in Year 3 and above can get free school meals if their parents or carers get certain benefits. These benefits include:

From the start of the 2026/27 school year, the Department for Education will extend entitlement to free school meals to include all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit.

Changes of circumstances

Since April 2018, pupils becoming eligible for free school meals under the benefits-based criteria will continue to receive free meals until the end of the 2025/26 school year. This applies, regardless of any change in household circumstances, including an increase in earnings above the eligibility threshold.

From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, households must meet the eligibility criteria to be entitled to free school meals.

Children must be in school before and after lunchtime to get free meals.

If your child goes to one of the East Sussex academies listed below, contact the school to apply for free school meals. 

Primary Academies

  • Ark Blacklands
  • Ark Castledown
  • Ark Little Ridge
  • Breakwater
  • Burfield
  • Hawkes Farm
  • High Cliff
  • Hollington 
  • Peacehaven Heights 
  • Phoenix
  • Telscombe Cliffs 
  • White House

Out of county

If your child attends one of the academies listed below, contact the school to apply for free meals. 

Huggg food vouchers for school holidays

Who is eligible for Huggg vouchers?

Children who receive free meals get Huggg food vouchers during school holidays. Children who get early years funding because their family has a low income can also get them at Christmas, Easter, and summer holidays.

The amount depends on the holiday but is at least £15 for half-term and at least £30 for longer holidays. The government pays for the vouchers through the Household Support Fund. 

Vouchers for the summer holiday 2025 will be sent out the week starting Monday, 14 July 2025. To get a voucher, your child must be entitled to free school meals before the end of the school year.

You must activate your voucher before the expiry date, or it will be cancelled. Once you activate it, you have at least one year to use it.

How to get a Huggg voucher

Vouchers are given out by schools, colleges, and early years providers before each holiday.

If you have a voucher but don’t know how to use it, you can find help on the Huggg website: How do I use my voucher?

If you think you should get a voucher but haven't got one, contact your school or setting first.

If you still have problems, contact:

Healthy Start

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, the Healthy Start scheme can help you buy healthy foods like milk or fruit and vegetables. You need to receive certain benefits to qualify.

Stay healthy

Help your family be healthier and happier, by eating well and moving more. 

Cost of living

Find out what support there is to help with the cost of living: