School Meals & Packed Lunches
Hot School Dinners
All menus are planned by ISS Education. They are balanced and follow strict government standards, including the latest allergenic advice. Our ISS kitchen staff are given the most up-to-date training and our kitchen resources are maintained and checked regularly by ISS Kitchen Managers. ISS believe in serving freshly-prepared British locally grown healthy food which tastes great. They have been recognised with awards from Food For Life, The Soil Association, The Good Egg Award, Quality British Beef and Lamb Standard Mark and the Marine Stewardship Council Certified Sustainable Seafood Mark.
For 2025-2026, due to an initiative funded by the mayor, children in London in Years Reception to Year 6 are entitled to universal free school meals; there is therefore no charge for their lunch.
Please click on the following link to view our latest menu:
Special Dietary Requirements
Parents and Carers need to inform the school as soon as possible if their child has any food allergies, intolerances or religious dietary requirements of which we need to be aware; they should contact the office as well as update their child's information record on Arbor - our Management Information System. We will then give the information to our kitchen staff and make staff aware of the nature of the concern.
Pupil Premium, Free School Meals and Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM)
Pupil Premium is additional funding which the school can receive from the Government to improve educational opportunities for children of families on low income. This grant includes the provision of Free School Meals for eligible families for all year groups in school. Whether your child is having a packed lunch or is having the universal free school meals, the school asks all parents and carers to claim their entitlement to Pupil Premium/Free School Meals if they think they are eligible because the school will receive extra funding from the government to support your child.
If you think you are eligible to apply for Pupil Premium/Free School Meals, please go to the school office and ask for an application form.
Healthy Packed Lunches
School lunches are a great choice for your child but, if you choose to make a packed lunch for them instead, here are some tips for preparing a healthier lunchbox.
What to include in your child’s lunchbox
A healthier lunchbox should
- be based on starchy carbohydrates (bread, potatoes, rice, pasta);
- include fresh fruit and vegetables/salad;
- include a source of protein such as beans and pulses, eggs, fish, meat, cheese (or dairy alternative);
- include a side dish such as a low-fat and lower-sugar yoghurt (or dairy alternative), tea cake, fruit bread, plain rice/corn cakes, sugar-free jelly; and
- include a drink such as water, skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, sugar-free or no-added-sugar drinks.
The Eatwell Guide shows you how to have a healthy balanced diet and can help you to decide what to put in your child’s lunchbox.
Find healthy lunchbox ideas at Change4Life.
St John's is a nut-free school, which means nut products of any kind are not allowed on the premises, at all.
