School Lunches

Our school lunches are provided by Aspens Services. Aspens Services provide a range of freshly cooked, delicious meals that will encourage your child to try something new as well as some school lunch classics.

The menu changes twice a year (once after the October break and again after the Easter break); there are new and exciting dishes on every menu.

The school dinner menu has also been changed extensively to reduce the amount of fat and salt in the meals and to increase the range of fresh fruit and vegetables on offer.

School meals are £2.75 per day. These must be paid for in advance. The easiest way to do this is via the School Gateway app which can be downloaded from your app store or directly from School Gateway. Alternatively you can pay at the school office by cash or cheque.

Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are provided with a free school lunch through the national universal free meals scheme.

We actively encourage children and parents to have healthy choices in mind when preparing their own packed lunches each day.

Please avoid fizzy drinks and chocolate bars, and pack some fruit each day. Always put your child’s name on their lunch pack and drink as they can get mixed up if boxes look the same.

Please help us! If you think you may be eligible for free school meals please make an application, even if your child prefers a packed lunch, or if they already receive a free meal in Reception or years 1 and 2 under the Universal Free Meals scheme.

The government allocates school funding based on the number of children who receive free school meals. Last year, a third of eligible families from our school did not apply, meaning the school did not receive tens of thousands of pounds which could have been used to fund an extra teacher, to reduce the cost of school activities and trips, for additional Teaching Assistants, providing additional support for children who have fallen behind, provide free breakfast club places… the list goes on.

Children are eligible to receive free school meals if their parents are in receipt of any of the following benefits:

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 guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (as long as you're not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
Universal Credit: if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get. This is also called the 'minimum income floor'.) If your child is eligible for free school meals they will eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they are in on 31 March 2025.

Please note, the criteria for entitlement is subject to change. You can view the latest criteria and apply through Bristol City Council.

You won’t need any documentation and the system tells you immediately whether or not you are eligible for free school meals.

Packed Lunches

A balanced packed lunch should contain:

Fruit and vegetables

Fruit and vegetables provide lots of vitamins and minerals which are important for fighting off illnesses; they also contain fibre which contributes to healthy bowel movements. Fruit and vegetables can be included as part of a meal, chopped up and as a snack or as fruit juice or smoothies. You should aim to give your child at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day.

Meat, fish and alternatives

These are all protein foods which are important for helping your child to grow and repair muscles. Try and include a variety of different protein containing foods such as lean meats, fish, baked beans, eggs, seeds, pulses, peas and lentils. You should aim to give your child a portion of protein at least twice a day.

Milk and dairy foods

These are all calcium containing foods and are important in your child's diet to support bone and teeth development. You should aim to provide your child with dairy foods three times a day. Soya products which are calcium enriched are suitable alternatives if they cannot tolerate or do not wish to eat dairy products.

Cereals, potatoes, rice and pasta

These are all carbohydrate foods which give provide slow release energy. Everyone should try and eat higher fibre types of bread and pasta such as wholemeal and granary bread, whole wheat pasta and brown rice. You should aim to provide a carbohydrate source at each meal time plus sometimes as snacks in between meals too.

Packed lunches should not contain:

Nuts.
Crisps.
Confectionery such as chocolate bars, chocolate-coated biscuits and sweets.
Cakes.
Biscuits.
Highly processed meat products such as sausage rolls, individual pies, corned meat.

Snacks and Drinks

Snacks

Healthy snacks are an essential part of a child's diet. Childhood is a critical time for growth and development, and snacks provide essential nutrients, that they need between meals. This means they should have a nutritious mid-morning and after-school snack. Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are provided with fruit or vegetables to have at breaktime, free of charge. We encourage parents on children in Years 3, 4,5 and 6 to provide their children with a piece of fruit or some vegetables for them to have at breaktime.

Drinks

Please provide your child with a bottle of water for school each day. We encourgae all children and staff to reduce their single use plastic waste by using refillable bottles.

We are a Nut Free School

Our school is a nut-free environment to ensure the safety and well-being of all students, especially those with life-threatening nut allergies. Even trace amounts of nuts can trigger severe allergic reactions, ranging from swelling and difficulty breathing to anaphylaxis, which can be fatal without immediate medical attention. By implementing a nut-free policy, we create an inclusive space where all students can learn and thrive without the fear of accidental exposure. This policy also encourages greater awareness and understanding of food allergies, promoting a sense of community and responsibility among students, staff, and families. Ultimately, prioritizing the health and safety of our students is our top priority, and a nut-free school is one important step in making that a reality.

Contact Us

Our office is staffed from 7.45am to 4.00pm from Monday to Friday during term time.

Address

Fishponds Road, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3UH

Email

fishpondsceprimary@fceps.org.uk

If you wish to contact a specific member of staff, please mark your email for their attention and we will do the rest.

Telephone Number

0117 9030491

School Meals

Limited spaces available in most year groups. Phone us on 0117 9030491 to book a tour or apply online now!