Catering Manager - Mrs Sarah Giffen

Assistant Catering Manager/Chef - Sharon Sharpin

The Catering Team at Springwood High School is led by the Catering Manager, Mrs Sarah Giffen, who has been at the school for many years.  Mrs Giffen and her team, along with the WNAT Executive Head Chef, Mr Mark Johnson, work side by side to produce a variety of meals using seasonal produce, whilst ensuring that a balanced and healthy menu is provided to suit all tastes and dietary requirements. 

Healthy Eating 

The school canteen along with the Executive Head Chef of West Norfolk Academies Trust are constantly developing new and improved health conscious menus. 

The canteen offers a wide choice of products which are available at three sessions throughout the day; breakfast, break and lunch. In addition, there are vending machines located in the dining hall, dispensing a complete range of healthy snacks and refreshing beverages.

As a school we are always seeking to improve facilities and menus to enhance the students' dining experience. 

The recent introduction of the advanced cashless payment system and additional serving hatches has significantly decreased waiting times.

Food Hygiene

The Catering Manager and the team are proud that the kitchen holds the five star food hygiene rating issued by the local authority. Five is top of the scale, which means the hygiene standards are very good and fully comply with the law.

 

Opening Times

Breakfast: 08.00 - 08.45
Break: 11.20 - 11.40
Lunch: 12.40 - 13.20

Menus 

Full details of the meals, snacks and drinks available on a daily basis can be found by clicking here.

These menus are reviewed at regular intervals and could be subject to change. 

Energy drinks are not permitted in school.  Students found to be drinking energy drinks will have them confiscated.

Food Allergy

In order to ensure the health and welfare of your child, we need to know if they have an allergy to any food, or if they are not allowed to eat any particular foods. If your child has any allergies, intolerances or cannot eat any foods due to a religion/cultural belief, please make sure you have told us in the Medical Information Section on your MCAS app.

Policies

When selecting produce and drawing up menus, WNAT Executive Head Chef adheres to various policies regarding allergens and dietary requirements, ensuring all food produced is well-balanced and nutritional. 

For further information regarding these policies please click on the links below:

• Allergen Policy
• Healthy Eating and Wellbeing Policy - Primary and Secondary Education
• Nut Policy

If you have any queries regarding these policies, then please do not hesitate to contact WNAT Executive Head Chef to discuss them.

The school canteen along with the school site manager are constantly looking to improve recycling.

At present:

• All cardboard and paper waste is recycled.
• The school has stopped the use of polystyrene, take away boxes and cups and introduced cardboard containers.
• WNAT has introduced recyclable straws in the canteen.
• The school canteen is constantly looking into ways to reduce plastic waste.

Is my child entitled to free school meals?

Children of families receiving Income Support, Employment Support Allowance (income related), Income-based Job Seekers allowance or Universal Credit are entitled to receive free school meals. Families receiving support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are also entitled.

Families receiving child tax credit but who are not entitled to a working tax credit, and those who receive the guarantee element of state pension credit may also be eligible for Free School Meals. Those families receiving working tax credit are not entitled to free school meals.

For updated information on eligibility, please contact the school or Norfolk County Council on 0344 800 8020 who will be able to help you.

Note: Where a parent is entitled to working tax credit during the four-week period immediately after their employment ceases, or after they start to work less than 16 hours per week, their children are entitled to free school meals.

You do not need to provide proof of the benefit you receive with your application. Checks will be carried out against the records held by the Department for Work and Pensions, HM Revenue and Customs and the Home Office to determine entitlement. If further information is required in support of your application, you will be contacted again.

Once entitlement has been assessed, children can continue to receive free school meals until the family stops receiving a qualifying benefit. Parents are required to inform the school or Norfolk County Council of any changes.

If you are receiving one of these benefits, please download and complete the form below, and return it to the Finance Office at the school.

What exactly is meant by a family’s annual income when considering the criteria for free school meals and Child Tax Credit?

For the purposes of claiming free school meals, ‘annual income’ is defined in education legislation as being ‘income for the tax year calculated in accordance with the Tax Credits’ (Definition and calculation of Income) Regulations 2002. This is the calculation that the Inland Revenue performs as part of the process used to assess a family’s entitlement to tax credits.

Does my child's entitlement to free school meals continue if my child transfers to another school?

The entitlement to free school meals continues for children transferring between one school and another within the same Local Authority subject to parents/carers continuing to receive one of the qualifying benefits.

Parents of children transferring to schools outside of Norfolk should apply to the County Council where the school is situated.

Contact Us

Additional information and guidance can be obtained by contacting the school finance department or by telephoning Norfolk County Council on: 0344 800 8020.

Download an application form

Free School Meal Application Form