School meals

Our school meals service provides hot, healthy and tasty meals for thousands of children on a daily basis. Every meal is freshly prepared each day by a team of highly skilled and experienced school cooks.

Free School Meals Enquiries (including registration and entitlement) please phone 0191 561 1417 or e-mail FreeSchool.Meals@togetherforchildren.org.uk

Primary and Nursery School Meals

The menus for nursery school children and primary school pupils are specifically designed to provide children with the energy and nutrition they require across the whole school day. Children can choose from a variety of freshly cooked main meals (including vegetarian options) that change on a daily basis over a 3-week menu cycle. They can also choose a dessert and a drink.

In addition there is a 'filling station' option where children can choose from a selection of lighter bites, such as filled jacket potatoes, homemade soup and sandwich, panini's, pizza and pasta sauces.

We have achieved the Bronze Food for Life Served Here award for our primary school menus. This is a national award that sets out a series of quality standards that must be met to ensure menus are fresh, healthy, tasty and sustainable.

If your child is in reception, year 1 or year 2, then they are entitled to a free school meal courtesy of the Universal Free School Meal Initiative. This could save you approximately £420 per year, per child.

Information on free school meal eligibility for children whose parents are in receipt of benefits can be found at Together for Children - free school meals (opens new window)

Free School Meals Enquiries (including registration and entitlement) please phone 0191 561 1417 or e-mail: FreeSchool.Meals@togetherforchildren.org.uk

Nursery School Menu 2024 - 2025 Primary School Menu 2024 - 2025

Secondary Schools

School meals in secondary schools is based on a more informal high street style environment to meet the changing needs of the pupils, including 'grab and go' facilities for those who do sports and activities at lunchtime, and satellite service points to reduce the frustration of queuing.

There is always a traditional meal (including a vegetarian option) on offer every day, but the menus also offer a wider range of products, with a broad selection of lighter bites and a large choice of drinks.

Our secondary schools operate a cashless system to reduce the amount of money that pupils have to carry. For more information on how the cashless system operates in individual schools please contact the school directly.

Special Diets

The school meals team employ the services of a Specialist Dietitian to ensure any child with a special dietary need related to a medical condition, allergy or intolerance can have a school meal. To ensure your child's special dietary needs can be met please provide a written request to your school from a doctor or dietitian.

Contact

For further information on the services available please contact our Catering Services Manager on 0191 561 4655 or email keith.miles@sunderland.gov.uk .

Recruitment

An open advert system is in place for those interested in a Permanent Variable Hours (PVH) catering role. All our employees receive training to industry standards. An application form can be obtained at Jobs North East.