School Meals at Tickhill St Mary’s

At St Mary’s, every child can choose from a variety of school meal options each day. In addition to the main meal, there is always an alternative option of a jacket potato with filling or a sandwich, which alternates daily. For Nursery and Key Stage 2 children, the cost of a school meal is £3.30. Children in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 receive a free school meal as part of the Government’s Universal Free School Meals programme for these year groups.

How to Book a Meal:

1. Log into your ParentPay account.
2. Click on ‘Book meals and places’.
3. Select one main meal and one dessert option — your selections will turn green.
4. Use the ‘next week’ button to move through the menu weeks; previous bookings will be saved.
5. Once all choices are made, scroll down and select ‘Confirm bookings’.
6. Remember to press ‘Confirm bookings’ to ensure your order is saved.

Bookings must be made at least two weeks in advance to allow the catering company to order ingredients in the correct quantities. We encourage parents to make meal choices in advance for the full term. For example, choices for the first week back after half term must be made by Wednesday.

If your child requires a school meal but you haven’t selected their choices, they will be allocated the first main meal option.

Children can switch daily between school meals and packed lunches from home. Please do not make a meal selection on days your child brings a packed lunch, as making a selection will automatically incur a charge.

If your child has a special diet (e.g., vegetarian, vegan, no dairy, no pork) and you have already informed the school, they will receive the vegetarian/vegan version of the meal option when ordering.

Nut-Free School

We would like to remind all parents and carers that St Mary’s is a nut-free school. This is because we have several children with severe nut allergies.

Nut allergies can cause severe, potentially life-threatening reactions. It’s important to know that contact with nuts isn’t the only risk — touching the skin or even smelling the breath of someone who has recently eaten nuts can trigger anaphylactic shock, which affects breathing and swallowing.

Our first aid staff are trained to use EpiPens (adrenaline injections) immediately if a reaction occurs.

Please do not send any nut products in lunchboxes or as treats. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Peanut butter sandwiches
• Chocolate spreads like Nutella
• Cereal bars and some granola bars
• Cakes and biscuits containing nuts
• Peanut butter cakes
• Some Asian foods, including satay
• Sauces containing nuts

This list is not exhaustive, so please check product packaging carefully.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in keeping all our children safe.