At Darell, all children have the option to bring a packed lunch to school or have a school meal. 

Children choose daily whether they are packed lunch or school meals. We feel this gives parents and children the flexibility to have more choice of the meals they enjoy or would like to try and, they are not restricted to a term.  Our school meals are freshly prepared daily on-site by our catering partners Cater Link We always offer a meat and a vegetarian option and the menu offers an excellent variety rotated over 3 weeks. Salad and fresh bread is available daily which children help themselves to from the salad bar.

The government provides free meals to all Infant children from Reception to Year 2.

From September 2023 the government will provide additional free school meals for children from Year 3 to Year 6.

School meals are charged at £2.60 per day, all payments are made via the Arbor app.

We teach and encourage children to eat healthily, and this is reinforced within the dinner hall. We ask parents and carers to support the school by providing healthy packed lunches.  

Packed Lunches

At Darell, we encourage children who opt for a packed lunch to eat a nutritious lunch in order to stay healthy. For the safety of some of our children, Darell is strictly a nut free school. As we have gained Healthy School status, we must insist that packed lunches are well balanced and no chocolate, sweets, nuts or fizzy drinks are permitted in packed lunches.

Healthy Lunchbox Suggestions:

Try to vary the type of bread such as wholemeal, granary or high fibre white bread. Also make sandwiches from different kinds of bread including bread rolls, French bread, bagels and pitta bread as well as sliced bread.

Use a different filling each day - preferably including a fruit or vegetable.

For example:

• Tuna and sweetcorn
• Cheese and cucumber
• Grated cheese and carrot
• Chicken, lettuce and tomato

Why not try providing your child with leftovers from your previous evening meal? This is a healthy and cost-effective option, and reduces packaging and waste.

Fruit and Vegetables

Fruits to try:

Grapes, Small bananas, Cherries, Apples, Satsumas, Melon fingers, berries, raisins, apricots, plum.

Vegetables to try:

Baby cucumbers, Carrot sticks, Baby sweetcorn, Cherry tomatoes, Sliced pepper.

Sweet suggestions:

Scones, malt loaf, flapjack, teacakes, yoghurt, jelly, rice pudding, custard.

Savoury ideas:

Rice cakes, bread sticks, Ryvita, cheese and crackers, boiled egg, quiche, falafel, samosa.

Free School Meals

If you think you may be eligible for free school meals, please follow the link Free School Meals

Please see the menu below for the spring/summer term: