From March 2026, we will be implementing the following changes Trust-wide. These changes have been carefully developed to ensure we can continue to provide nutritious, good quality meals for pupils while responding to rising food and staffing costs.
At the heart of this work is our commitment to:
- Ensuring every child is fed
- Providing appetising, nutritious and balanced meals
- Offering value for money while meeting the needs of our school communities
- Supporting our catering teams
- Delivering a sustainable service for the future
Over the past two years, we have chosen to not to increase catering prices, absorbing significant rises in food costs wherever possible. However, ongoing national cost pressures mean we now need to make some changes to protect the quality and sustainability of our service. Even with these adjustments, our prices will remain below the UK average for school meals and lower than regional benchmarks.
Breakfast and free fruit will remain free for pupils, available every morning from 7.45am in the BBA canteen.
What’s Changing?
From the 1st March 2026, we will be moving our pricing and catering offer to:
Breaktime:
A range of items will be available at different price points (30p for toast/crumpet or £1 for a hot snack). One piece of fresh fruit will be offered free of charge for those wishing to keep their money/allowance for the main meal at lunchtime.
Lunch:
- Hot main meal / Grab & Go: £2.80
- Cold baguette / sandwich: £2.50
- Dessert: £0.80
- Bottled drink: £0.80
A meal deal will also be available for £3.10, which includes a hot main meal or Grab & Go plus either a dessert or a drink.
Free School Meals (FSM):
- FSM allowance will increase to £3.10 (from £2.60 to cover a 2-course lunch)
- A break time snack and flavoured water will be an additional charge (free fruit will still be available)
- FSM can be used flexibly at break or lunch to purchase any items or combinations
- Pupils eligible for FSM may also top up their account if they wish to purchase additional items
Examples of what students can buy:
Whilst we are committed to ensuring all pupils receive a meal, no pupil will be permitted to go into a negative balance. Please see the examples below:
| Breakfast | Break | Lunch | Drink |
| Cereal/toast | X1 Fruit | Meal deal (main meal and dessert or drink) | Water bottle from home |
| £0 | £0 | 3.10 | £0 |
| £3.10 (within FSM allowance) |
| Breakfast | Break | Lunch | Drink |
| Cereal/toast | Toast/crumpet | Main meal/grab & go | Water bottle from home |
| £0 | 30p | 2.80 | £0 |
| £3.10 (within FSM allowance) |
| Breakfast | Break | Lunch | Drink |
| Cereal/toast | X1 Fruit | Meal deal (main meal and dessert/drink) | Flavoured water |
| £0 | £0 | 3.10 | 80p |
| £3.90
(FSM will need additional 80p credit) |
| Breakfast | Break | Lunch | Drink |
| Cereal/toast | Hot snack | Main meal | Water bottle from home |
| £0 | £1 | 2.80 | £0 |
| £3.80
(FSM will need additional 70p credit) |
| Breakfast | Break | Lunch | Drink |
| Cereal/toast | 2x toast | Cold baguette/sandwich | Water bottle from home |
| £0 | 60p | 2.50 | £0 |
| £3.10 (within FSM allowance) |
We will continue to provide a range of hot and cold lunch options each day, delivered through our quality menus. All meals will continue to meet School Food Standards, ensuring they are nutritious, balanced and support pupils’ health and wellbeing. We understand this represents a change being introduced at pace and we remain committed to working closely with families and schools as the new offer is embedded. To support the launch of this revised offer I have included responses to a range of frequently asked questions.
We thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions or would like further clarification, please contact the school office directly: office@bluecoatbeechdale.co.uk
Spring 2026 Menu
