School Meals

Nidderlicious Catering Facility

School Catering … not just Nutritious School Meals

Nidderdale High School  recognises the important contribution that nutritious school meals make to students’ health and learning. School meals are an essential part of lunchtimes.  We aim for all students to be able to eat in school with their friends and to enjoy their social time in a modern, pleasant environment.

Food at Nidderdale is prepared on site from fresh local produce by our Catering Manager, Mr R Vass and team of Ms S Whelan, Miss L Wray, Mrs A Gillingham and Ms S Newall.

England now has the most stringent school food standards worldwide to ensure that food provided to pupils in school is nutritious and of high quality and to:

1. promote good nutritional health in all pupils
2. protect those who are nutritionally vulnerable
3. promote good eating behaviour

A summary of the revised standards introduced in January 2015 is available from the School Food Plan website. The standards apply to hot and cold lunches for students and require at least two items from the following food groups to be available:

Bread, potatoes, rice, pasta / Vegetables and fruit / Meat, fish or alternative source of protein

School’s Weekly Menu is uploaded onto the website and copies are displayed in the Dining Hall and in form rooms.

In 2014, the school was awarded National Healthy School status.  This award recognises excellent work in:

1. Healthy eating
2. Physical activity
3. Emotional health and well-being
4. Personal, social and health education (PSHCE)

Food Safety

We have a fully comprehensive Quality Assurance system supported by the Food Standards Agency through Harrogate Borough Council to safeguard catering practices within school. All members of the catering team hold food hygiene and safety certificates.  We retain our top hygiene rating of 5 (Very Good). This inspection result reflects the standards of food hygiene found on the date of inspection or visit by the local authority.

Theme Days

We hold regular theme days throughout the year. These days may be seasonal (e.g. Easter, Christmas, Halloween); topical (e.g. World Cup, Olympic Games); traditional (e.g. Chinese, Indian, American). These days are popular with students as special menus are prepared and often the dining rooms decorated by catering staff.

We put great value in listening to what students want from their catering service and we survey specific groups on appropriate issues annually. We analyse results and where appropriate adjust the menus to use students’ suggestions.  The last survey showed 96% of students were highly satisfied with school catering.

Cashless Catering

We use a “cashless catering “system which removes the need for students to carry cash. Accounts are loaded via the school website home page (Gateway icon). Parents register as users and transfer funds onto the student account.  Students use their thumbprint or PIN number to access accounts and pay for their meal.

Free School Meals

The cashless catering system in operation ensures discretion for those on free school meals. Families who receive certain benefits may be eligible for free school meals.  Your child is eligible for free school meals if you’re in receipt of one of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400.
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual income of no more than £16,190

Registering for free meals could also raise an extra £900 for your child’s secondary school, to fund valuable support like extra tuition, additional teaching staff or after school activities.  This additional money is available from central government for every child whose parent is receiving one of the benefits listed above.

Should you meet the above criteria, you can apply through NYCC's website - click here.  Applications are usually processed by them on the same day as receipt of the form.

If your child is entitled to free school meals you will receive a letter confirming the date when the meals will start. The school is also notified that your child is entitled to free school meals. In the meantime, you should continue to pay for school meals until confirmation comes through.  Schools may be able to arrange a reimbursement of any monies paid whilst your entitlement is being confirmed.  If you are not entitled to free school meals you will be notified in writing.

Further Information provided by North Yorkshire County Council:  Information about Free School meals