VE Day stands for Victory in Europe Day, which is celebrated on 8th May each year and marks the formal end of World War II in Europe in 1945.

The wonderful kitchen team over at St Peter’s Catholic School pulled out all the stops to mark this special day from the decor down to the food. Pupils were served a tasty selection of British favourites… cheese sandwiches, ham sandwiches, sausage rolls and refreshing, crunchy carrot and cucumber sticks on the side.

The kitchen team over at St Peter’s continuously make dining an exciting experience for pupils!

 

You may have heard about the ‘Mayor’s Meals’ initiative which provides pupils in Years 3 to 6 with free school meals, courtesy of the Mayor of London.

Our school meals are a great benefit to your child. Each meal is specially curated by an executive chef and nutritionist to ensure that pupils get tasty and nutritious meal options daily.

The benefits of choosing school meals instead of packed lunches include:

• Better learning outcomes thanks to improved concentration, memory and problem-solving skills
• Healthier eating habits: balanced meals teach pupils better long-term eating practices
• Saves time and money: packed lunches can cost over £2.76 a day to match the nutritional value of a school meal
• Help our school access up to £2,010 in extra funding (Pupil Premium) for extracurricular activities, teacher development and support for children

All children eligible for Pupil Premium payments will still benefit from Mayor’s Meals. Pupil Premium funding is a grant from the government paid directly to schools and used to improve educational outcomes. Each Pupil Premium payment grants the school an extra £2,010 per eligible pupil which contributes towards this pot of money.

To check your eligibility and grant your child’s school this funding, please click here.

Did you know? Our school caterer, Delish, recently introduced allergen free days to all school menus? This means that every meal, including sides and desserts, is completely free from the 14 declarable allergens. This exciting change ensures your child will have a safe and inclusive dining experience where they will be able to enjoy new and adventurous allergen free dishes with their peers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’re pleased to introduce allergen free days to all school menus. Meals served on this day, including sides and desserts, will be entirely free from the 14 declarable allergens, providing a more inclusive dining experience for pupils.

The 14 declarable allergens include celery, gluten-containing cereals (wheat, rye, barley, oats), crustaceans (prawns, crabs, lobsters), eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs (mussels, oysters), mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide/sulphites (if the sulphur dioxide and sulphites are at a concentration of more than ten parts per million) and tree nuts (such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios and macadamia nuts). (food.gov.uk).

In 2019, we made our first commitment to supporting pupils with food allergies through our partnership with food tech innovators Kafoodle. With access to the Kafoodle online app, pupils could view their daily menu and filter options based on known food allergens or dietary requirements.

Cllr Robert Benham, Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Families, said:
“Allergens are a rising issue across the country and HES Catering Services wants to go above and beyond in supporting ‘Natasha’s Law’ by using the latest  technology to ensure that pupils with known food allergens are able to safely enjoy their lunches.”

Six years on, we continue to support pupils with allergies by introducing FDA (free from declarable allergen) days to schools across Havering.

Click here to see our 25-26 example menu

On the 25-26 school menus the FDA days will be marked with this sticker

Please contact your child’s school for access to their full menu

Pancake Day takes on the 4th of March

This day is all about indulging in fluffy, delicious pancakes and sharing the joy with family, friends, and the wider community. Whether you prefer them plain, topped with syrup, or loaded with berries, National Pancake Day is the perfect excuse to enjoy this breakfast classic.

For dessert, pupils will have tasty American pancakes served plain or with lemon 🥞🍋

Your child will be able to receive free school meals if they are in reception class, year 1 or year 2 regardless of benefits or household earnings.

For the 2024-2025 school year, children in year 3, year 4, year 5 and year 6 will also be able to receive free school meals regardless of benefits or household earnings.

Funding for this is provided by the Mayor of London and it covers schools in London boroughs only, including the London Borough of Havering.

All primary age children will receive free school dinners, however, it is still worth notifying us if you meet the criteria below as your child’s school will receive additional funding.

Also, if it is known that your child is eligible, they will continue to receive free school meals after the 2024-2025 school year even if by then your personal circumstances have changed.

Pupils in years 3 to 6 who receive free school meals are still able to apply for Pupil Premium.

There’s never a dull moment at lunchtime at St Peter’s. To celebrate the Chinese New Year the kitchen staff prepared a Chinese-inspired menu for pupils to enjoy and to add more flare to the lunchtime experience, decorated the dinner hall.

Violeta, kitchen staff at St Peters, said “It was a busy day here at St Peters, the kids were very excited… they loved our food, very impressed with our outfits and decorations 😊😊😊”

Have a look at the photos. Wouldn’t you be too?

Happy Chinese New Year!

 

Today we have a Winter Wonderland theme going.

On the menu we have:

American style hot dogs
Breaded fish fillet
Crispy quorn dippers & bbq dip
Oven baked fries
Peas of baked beans and…. for dessert, frosted ice sponge!

A surprise menu adds an extra layer of excitement and delight among pupils. There is never a dull moment with us!

We’re in a new year and it’s the perfect time to reconsider the packed lunch. While it may seem like a convenient option, packed lunches can often lack the variety, nutrition and excitement that your child needs to stay energised and focused throughout the school day. That’s where free school meals (FSM) come in!

Switching to FSM offers numerous benefits, starting with the nutritional quality of the meals. We provide well-balanced, freshly prepared meals that are packed with the essential vitamins and minerals students need for optimal health and learning. Unlike pre-packed sandwiches or snacks, each meal is carefully designed to provide a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins ensuring students get the best fuel for their school day.

Not only are FSM meals more nutritious, but they also bring greater convenience for parents. Gone are the days of scrambling to prepare lunches each morning or dealing with uneaten, soggy sandwiches. With FSM, students receive tasty and diverse meals directly at school, leaving more time for parents and children to focus on the day ahead.

With school meals, your child will have the opportunity to try new foods and flavours they might not get at home. From exciting themed menus like Chinese New Year meals to globally inspired dishes during International Week, your child can indulge in unique and nutritional fulfilling meals.

Packed lunches can often end up unhealthy. Did you know that a number of studies have shown that the majority of packed lunches fail to meet the school food standards and that it is far easier for a child to get the nutrients they need from a school lunch? In fact the School Food Plan reported that only 1 percent of packed lunches meet the nutritional standards applied to school meals.

If you would like to switc your child from packed lunch to free school meals, please visit https://www.havering.gov.uk/schools-education/school-support.