About School Meals
The school dinners at Anchorsholme Academy are provided by Lancashire County Council Catering Services, and we are very proud of our ‘Health and Hygiene’ rating of a ‘5’!
Parents and carers do not need to notify the school if their child wishes to choose between a packed lunch or a school dinner on a daily basis. Children can decide each morning whether they would like a packed lunch or a school meal. Please ensure that school dinners are paid for in advance where applicable.
No Debts Policy
Anchorsholme Academy has adopted a ‘no debts’ policy relating to payable services. All payable accounts must be in credit at all times and the academy reserves the right to deny access to paid services (e.g. Breakfast Club and After School Club) if other paid services (e.g. School Dinners/Music Lessons) are in arrears.
Paying for School Meals
We aim to be a cashless school and as a result we only accept school dinner meal payments via the Arbor app located on the Google Play and the Apple App store. Parents must make all payments themselves using the Arbor app.
Please note that unfortunately, due to recent changes, we are now UNABLE TO TAKE ANY CARD PAYMENTS over the phone or in the office.
Free School Meals
Universal Infant Free School Meals were introduced in September 2014. This entitles all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 to a free school meal.
School dinners cost £2.52 per day for children in Preschool and Years 3-6, unless your child is entitled to a Free School Meal, authorised by Capita (check your child’s eligibility here). School dinners must be paid for in full one week in advance via the Arbor app.
Please note due to increases in food, staffing and operating costs, together with the impact of ongoing national inflation, the cost of a paid school meal will increase to £2.80 per day from 1st October 2026.
School Menus
School Menus are updated on a regular basis. A digital School Menu is available by clicking the image below.
Parents and carers can view detailed nutritional and allergen information for all Lancashire Catering Service school meals through the online menu portal. This can be particularly helpful for children with specific dietary requirements, including diabetes, coeliac disease and food allergies.
The portal provides nutritional values, allergen information and meal planning tools to help families make informed choices about school lunches.
Browse Lancashire Primary School Menus
If your child has a medically diagnosed food allergy, intolerance or other dietary requirement, please contact the school office so we can ensure the appropriate arrangements are in place.
Lancashire County Council Catering Services Mission Statement
Our aim is to positively influence the diet of our children and young people, and always consider where the food we put on the plates comes from, how it was made, grown or reared and how it was purchased.
Why choose us?
- Freshly prepared nutritious meals, using wholesome ingredients
- Fully trained and qualified catering staff who care, and will make every effort to encourage your child to choose a healthy meal
- 3 week cycle menu, with a varied choice of meal options
- Menus, which comply with the nutritional standards for school lunches
- Special dietary needs can be catered for
- Vegetarian choices available daily
- Development of social skills
- Food to help children think and grow
- Increase in concentration levels in the afternoon after eating a well-balanced school lunch