School Meals

School meals make an important contribution to the diets of children and young people. Our healthy and tempting menus comply with the Welsh Governments ‘Healthy Eating in Schools’ (Nutritional Standards and Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2013). Special dietary requirements can be catered for upon written request from parents/guardians.

Each school day, our experienced and fully trained catering staff produce in excess of 19,000 meals in over 110 education establishments. 

Benefits of eating a school meal: 

  • Save time in the mornings not having to prepare lunch, plus there is no worry about keeping the food fresh and hygienic until lunchtime. 
  • School meals offer fresh vegetables, salads and fruit helping towards your child’s ‘5 a day’
  • Our meals offer value for money. Your child/children can enjoy a two course meal for only £2.67 per day.   
  • Sitting down and eating together at a table helps develop social skills and table manners; pupils are also encouraged to try new foods. 
  • Studies have shown that children are more receptive in afternoon classes if they have had a fulfilling lunchtime meal
  • We hold regular themed day menu’s plus a celebratory two course Christmas lunch during the month of December. 

The School Meals Service in Carmarthenshire is provided in-house by our Catering Division.

More information here

Remember to use ParentPay to pre-order and pay for school meals.

Free School Meals and Universal Primary Free School Meals – Understanding the difference

Free School Meals (FSM)

A free school meal (FSM) does depend on your household income and if you receive certain benefits. If you meet the eligibility criteria it is extremely important that you claim for this. The meal your child receives will be no different and it will mean you are eligible to receive any support available during school holidays or in the event of school closures.

Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM)

Since the 5th September 2022 all full time Nursery and Reception children have been offered a Universal Primary Free School Meal (UPFSM). Following the successful roll-out of the first phase, we are pleased to inform you that from start of the new term in January 2023, all Year 1 pupils will also be offered a UPFSM.

This offer does not depend on your household income or whether you receive any benefits, every child in these year groups is eligible to take up.

Free School Meals

You could be eligible for free school meals if you receive one of the following benefits:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
  • Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Child Tax Credit and your annual income is no more than £16,190
  • Working Tax Credit run-on-paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit and your household’s annual net income is no more than £7,400 (16.67 monthly)
  • Support under part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

If you are in receipt of Working Tax Credit in addition to any of these benefits you will not be eligible, even if the household income is below £16,190.

If you are already in receipt of FSM and need to inform us of a change in your circumstances e.g., change of address, school, change of benefit entitlement or additional child attending school, you need to inform us of your ‘Change in Circumstances’.

If you are already in receipt of Free School Meals but have no change of circumstances, you do NOT need to apply again.

APPLY FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS AND INFORM US ABOUT A CHANGE IN YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

Pupil Development Grant (PDG) Statement

The Pupil Development Grant (PDG) is allocated to schools with pupils who come from low-income families and are currently known to be eligible for free school meals (e-FSM) and pupils who have been looked after continuously for more than six months (LAC).

Schools are expected to make the best use of this funding to implement sustainable strategies that will quickly bring about changes for learners eligible for free school meals or who are LAC.

As a school we have agreed the following three steps:

  1. to identify the target group of pupils, its characteristics and needs
  2. to plan interventions which make the most effective use of resources
  3. to monitor and evaluate the impact of resources

In 2022-23 Ysgol Llanybydder was provided with a PDG allocation of £19,550 (including Early Years allocation of £4,600). 

At Ysgol Llanybydder we have a comprehensive plan, agreed and monitored by Carmarthenshire Local Authority and Partneriaeth, to promote progress and remove barriers to learning for students eligible for this funding.

We have used the funding available to:

  • Enhance teaching and learning by providing programme of support in smaller groups
  • Provide intervention and support programs that have been proven to have the greatest impact and to be sustainable. RWI, Hwb Ymlaen, Llythrennau a Synnau and ELSA have been very effective programs and we will continue with these.
  • Provide high quality specific training for school staff.
  • Introduce and use data tracking systems to identify learners’ needs, target interventions and monitor impact.
  • Work in partnership with other schools, the community, and other organisations.

Our detailed plan which includes details in respect to how we’re spending the grant is available via the school.

Special diets, allergies and intolerances

We also provide meals to pupils with allergens and/or intolerances to specific products.  The Food Standards Agency’s website has established a list of 14 allergens:

We cater for a wide range of special dietary requirements and offer vegetarian options on a daily basis; current customer requirements are varied to include coeliac, soya, halal and diabetic. 

  • Gluten
  • Crustaceans
  • Molluscs
  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Peanuts
  • Nuts
  • Soybeans
  • Milk
  • Celery
  • Mustard
  • Sesame
  • Lupin
  • Sulphur dioxide at levels above 10mg/kg, or 10 mg/litre, expressed as SO2

In the event that your child has a requirement for a special diet and/or has an allergy/intolerance to any of the above listed allergens, we ask you to inform the catering staff at the school immediately so that suitable meals can be planned and prepared for your child/children.