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School Meals
Cromwell's catering service is provided by Edwards & Blake, caterer of choice for thousands of primary and secondary school students across the UK.
We believe lunch is an integral part of the school day. When students sit down with friends, they cement relationships, enhance social skills, and replenish both their body and mind.
Our menus are exciting, nutritious, and appealing, served in a supportive environment designed to educate students about how they can make healthy choices to support their wellbeing and improve their ability to focus.
Our freshly prepared menus meet the Government’s School Food Standards and meet the bronze Food for Life standards.
The food children eat in school is very important for their education. Not only does a well-balanced diet help with general health but establishing healthy eating habits at a young age can give them knowledge for the future. We understand primary school children and their likes and dislikes so we tailor our menus to encourage maximum uptake.
Children who are in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 are offered a free, healthy school lunch under the Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) government scheme. Children in Years 3 and 4 purchase their meals, unless they are eligible for income-related Free School Meals. There are hot meal and packed lunch options available every day which are £2.85 including a dessert. Meal selections for Primary children are made using the ParentMail app - see instructions here.
Schools receive additional funding when children are registered for free school meals, even if your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, so it is important to apply for free school meals if you are eligible. You can check your eligibility and apply online via the Cambridgeshire County Council Website HERE.
The Primary menus work on a 3 week cycle as follows:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 13-17 April 5-8 May 15-19 June 6-10 July 7-11 September 28 Sep - 2 Oct 19-23 October | 20-24 April 11-15 May 1-5 June 22-26 June 13-15 July 14-18 September 5-9 October | 27 Apr - 1 May 18-22 May 8-12 June 29 Jun - 3 Jul 3-4 September 21-25 September 12-16 October |
Click here to see the Primary Phase Spring/Summer Menu
Special Menu Days
Allergen Management
At Edwards & Blake, all our colleagues are trained and up to date with allergen procedures and will provide accurate allergen information. If your Primary Phase child has allergies, please follow the link below to read the guidance and provide the necessary information to ensure that your child is supported and receives a tasty, nutritious, and safe meal:
The Secondary Phase and Sixth Form menus work on a 3 week cycle as follows:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 13-17 April 5-8 May 15-19 June 6-10 July 7-11 September 28 Sep - 2 Oct 19-23 October | 20-24 April 11-15 May 1-5 June 22-26 June 13-15 July 14-18 September 5-9 October | 27 Apr - 1 May 18-22 May 8-12 June 29 Jun - 3 Jul 3-4 September 21-25 September 12-16 October |
Click here to see the Secondary Phase and Sixth Form Spring/Summer Menu
Click here to see the Secondary Phase and Sixth Form Price List
Our Hot and Cold Meal Deals are priced at £2.93 and include:
- Pasta Pot or Main Meal of the Day; OR
- Jacket Potato & 1 Filling; OR
- Sandwich
PLUS
- Traybake or Hot Dessert; OR
- Fruit or Jelly Pot
Allergen Management
At Edwards & Blake, all our colleagues are trained and up to date with allergen procedures and will provide accurate allergen information to your child. If your Secondary Phase child has allergies, we would ask that they speak to our server for information so that they can be provided with the information they need to make an informed and safe choice.
The Snack Shack
The Snack Shack is open at breaktimes and lunchtimes for Secondary Phase and Sixth Form students.
Purchases can only be made using ID Cards.
New ID Cards can be ordered via ParentMail if required.
Healthy Eating Promotion
Good nutritional choices are vital to students’ health, academic achievement, and wider performance at school. Our Healthy Swaps campaign encourages the uptake of healthier items by providing suggestions for more nutritious options that are readily available.
Theme Days
Keep an eye out for our regular Theme Days and Pop Ups featuring fantastic flavours for students to try including our Taste of Greece, May The Fourth Be With You and Veganuary!
Eating a School Lunch is Better for Your Child
Did you know only 1% of packed lunches meet the nutritional standards that currently apply to school food? Five reasons school lunches are better;
- They save time & money
- They’re nutritionally better than a packed lunch
- They promote a varied diet & encourages new tastes
- They support inclusivity, dining with friends
- They help academic attainment by being linked to improved concentration
Free School Meals
From September 2026, free school meal eligibility is changing and all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be eligible. This is regardless of household income. All families, including those currently eligible, will need to apply and be rechecked.
There are now three types of free school meals. One is based on your child's year group, the other two are dependent on household income and receipt of Universal Credit.
Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM)
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 attending government-funded schools will continue to be entitled to free school meals. This is regardless of their household's income or benefit status. UIFSM does not provide eligibility for the Holiday Activities Food (HAF) programme.
We recommend that you still apply for the new Expanded/Targeted Free School Meals scheme. Your eligibility will automatically be checked when your child moves into Year 3. If your child is eligible for Targeted Free School Meals, they may also be able to access the HAF programme, and their school could receive between £1,100 and £1,550 in Pupil Premium funding.
Targeted Free School Meals (TFSM)
Households receiving Universal Credit (UC) with annual earnings of £7,400 or less. This will entitle your child to the following:
- a free lunch in school each day during term-time
- a place on the HAF programme
Expanded Free School Meals (EFSM)
Households receiving Universal Credit (UC) with annual earnings of more than £7,400. This will entitle your child to the following:
- a free lunch in school each day during term-time only
To apply please follow this link to the Cambridgeshire County Council website