Canteen
Five Acres High School provides an excellent Canteen service with a wide range of healthy foods, drinks and snacks.
If a student has a special dietary requirement on medical grounds, the school should be informed in writing so that any necessary arrangements can be made.
The Canteen is open before school for breakfast 0800hrs - 0825hrs, at break time, lunchtime and after school just for snacks and drinks, 1500hrs - 1515hrs and 1600hrs - 1615hrs from Monday to Friday.
Cashless system
The school operates a cashless catering system. Each student has their own account and money can be added to their account by logging into the MyChildAtSchool App to make a payment and making sure the monies are allocated to the correct place within the system.
Free School Meals
The free school entitlement is £2.75, which cannot be spent at breakfast. However, we do have a free breakfast programme running at the moment for ALL STUDENTS. (NB. Any unspent allowance will not be transferred to the following day). Extra money can be added to the student’s account by the method mentioned above.
Overspends
Please make sure students have credit on their canteen account as overspends cannot be authorised. However, no student will ever be refused food if their account is in arrears; they will be offered something then asked to bring in a packed lunch from home the following day if the account hasn't been credited. All accounts are initially set at a £5.00 a day maximum limit if there is credit on the account. If you would like to put a limit on your student’s account please email the Catering Manager, catering@5acreshighschool.co.uk, with the maximum amount you would like them to spend over the day.
Healthy eating
At Five Acres High School, our main aims are to embed healthier eating habits and encourage more social interaction between students at mealtimes. To support these aims, we encourage students to make healthier choices and sit and eat their meals with their peers. We have a water cooler within the canteen and in the hub, to encourage students to bring in reusable water bottles and fill them during break times, so they keep well hydrated throughout the day.
We do have a menu cycle, but due to the current situation with food supplies, the menus could change at short notice. As well as the main meal menu cycle, we do have a range of 'grab and go' items, snack items, fresh fruit, salad pots, sandwiches and a selection of cold drinks that are served at morning break and at lunchtime.
Five Acres High School is part of the Greenshaw Learning Trust and as part of the Trust, we firmly believe in the fundamental right of all individuals to access nutritious and sustainable food that not only benefits the climate but also promotes overall well-being. Our commitment extends to ensuring that the meals served in our schools prioritise nutritional excellence and inclusivity, fostering the health and success of our students. Recognising the pivotal role healthy food plays in maintaining physical well-being and enhancing mood, we aim to empower students to achieve their full potential throughout the school day.
To underscore our dedication to this cause, we have embraced the Food for Life Scheme, an initiative with the mission to provide daily access to healthy and sustainable meals. Our goal is to kindle a lifelong passion for good food, recognizing its integral role in addressing climate, social, and health challenges both in the UK and globally. As part of this initiative, we are making changes to our menus, actively reducing the inclusion of ultra-processed foods and unhealthy additives. A minimum of 75% of our dishes will be freshly prepared, and any meat utilised will be sourced from farms certified to UK welfare standards. Additionally, our commitment extends to using free-range eggs, avoiding endangered fish or GM ingredients, and ensuring that our meals are free from additives.
In addition to our participation in the Food for Life Scheme, we are proud to announce our commitment to the Green Kitchen Scheme. This initiative aims to implement sustainable processes and practices in our kitchens, actively reducing energy, water, and waste. We are thrilled to be part of these schemes, contributing to a food environment that is not only better for our students' health but also aligns with our commitment to the well-being of the climate and nature.
