Our school catering
When your child chooses our school catering you can be assured that a lot of thought has gone into making it as healthy as possible. Our catering team never compromise on quality and only serves food that is fresh, prepared daily and provides everything your child needs to feed their bodies and their minds.
We offer parents the opportunity to pay for school meals by using a credit or debit card using the My Child at School (MCAS) app and portal.
Some children qualify for means-tested free school meals if you or your partner receive child benefit (for the child you are applying for), and the child is in full time education, under 19 years of age;
and
you and your partner are in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA – IB)
- Guaranteed Pension Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA Income Related)
- Child Tax Credit and your income for Tax Credit purposes is less than £16,190.00. Check your Tax Credit award notice for details.
- Working Tax Credit Run-on. Working Tax Credit does not qualify.
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Universal Credit
If you need to apply for free school meals, please contact Gateshead Council or click on the link below.
Medical and alternative dietary requirements
The Gateshead School Catering Team is passionate about ensuring every pupil has the same opportunity to eat school food regardless of their religious and dietary views.
Medical diet
Definition – food allergies, intolerances, coeliac and other medically required food related diets, whereby adjustments are required to make food safe for a pupil.
This definition of a medical diet also includes non-food allergies such as pupils with Diabetes type 1 or type 2, and pupils with dysphagia. These may also commonly be called ‘Special Diets’.
Gateshead School Catering Service will strive to provide a correct medical menu to all allergens , including 14 major allergens, but also to intolerances or allergies to foods such as tomatoes, kiwi, pulses etc., if the correct evidence is presented.
Medical diets – information for parents and carers
Medical diet – application form
Alternative diet
Definition – a non-life threatening diet based on religious or personal views.
The examples of alternative diet are Halal – religious preference, Vegan diet, any other cultural or religious requirement, sensory / limited eating disorder / food aversion.