Academy Meals
If your child is attending school full-time they will be staying for lunch-time. Please ensure you make arrangements for their lunches.
Paid school meals
At Lime Academy Watergall we are a cashless system where school dinners are ordered and paid for via Arbor. School accounts must be in credit for your child to receive a school meal.
School meals are ordered via Arbor and this allows parents to select from our range of delicious weekly meals for their child(ren). Parents can view the termly menus on Arbor. Meals should be booked 7 days in advance to ensure that children receive the meal of their choice.
Free School Meals
The rules for Free School Meals (FSM) changed from September 2026. We would like to explain the difference between Targeted FSM and Expanded FSM in a simple way.
What is Targeted FSM?
Targeted FSM is for children whose families receive certain benefits, including Universal Credit, and have a household income below the government’s set threshold.Children who qualify for Targeted FSM:
- Receive a free school meal each day.
- Help the school receive additional funding called Pupil Premium.
- May qualify for other support, such as Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes and some transport assistance.
What is Expanded FSM?
Expanded FSM is a new category introduced from September 2026.
Children who qualify for Expanded FSM:
- Receive a free school meal each day.
- Live in a household that receives Universal Credit but do not meet the income threshold for Targeted FSM.
- Do not attract Pupil Premium funding for the school.
- Do not automatically qualify for some of the additional benefits linked to Targeted FSM.
Why does this matter?
The most important thing is that both Targeted FSM and Expanded FSM provide your child with a free school meal each day.
However, it is important that schools know which category a child falls into because this affects:
- The funding the school receives to support pupils.
- Access to some additional schemes and services.
Check Your Eligibility
We encourage all families who receive Universal Credit to complete a Free School Meals eligibility check, even if your child currently receives free meals.
Lime Trust uses the LGfL Free School Meals Eligibility Checker, which provides a quick and secure way to check entitlement. You can access the checker here:
LGfL Free School Meals Eligibility Checker
By completing a check, you can help ensure that:
- Your child receives any support they are entitled to.
- The school receives any available funding to support pupils.
- Your FSM status is accurate under the new arrangements.
Need Help?
If you are unsure whether your child may be eligible, or if you would like support completing the check, please contact the school office and we will be happy to help.
Please note that we are unable to provide your child with a free school meal until we have received written confirmation from the Local Authority.
In 2013 the Government introduced the universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) grant, which enables schools to provide free school meals to all pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.
WE ARE A NUT FREE SCHOOL.
Packed Lunches
Alternatively, children may bring a packed lunch. Please make sure that the lunch box is clearly marked with your child’s name and that it is secure, especially the drink container (no glass containers). Please make sure your child’s packed lunch is a healthy meal, with no fizzy drinks and we ask you to avoid crisps and chocolate. Do not pack any nut products as we are a Nut Free School.
School meals are moving towards a healthy organic menu (where possible), with lots of fresh vegetables and interesting meals. We would like to see all our children eating healthily. Therefore, our request to parents providing packed lunches is to avoid crisps and chocolate. We appreciate your co-operation.
Snacks and Milk
Children may bring a healthy snack to be eaten at break time. Fruit is provided daily in KS1. The school is part of the Cool Milk for Schools scheme and all children receive free milk until the child’s 5th birthday.
Healthy Eating
We all want to help our children stay healthy and happy as they grow up. Here at Lime Academy Watergall we want to help children lead a healthy lifestyle by offering healthy food choices at lunchtime. You can find out much more about healthy eating at break-time for a small cost by applying directly to Cool Milk. Alternatively you can ask for a registration form at the school office.
