Catering
We are education catering specialists, meaning that we focus solely on primary, secondary, academy and college clients. Healthy eating is at the very heart of our approach to food. We wholeheartedly encourage balanced diets within our dining rooms and significantly invest in training our teams. Our policy of purchasing a range of seasonal produce from local and regional suppliers enables us to deliver exceptional value.
We have a cashless system for the catering service at the Sir John Colfox Academy in Bridport. Our desire is to continue to provide and improve on the quality of the meal service at your school. We are sure you will appreciate the advantages the system will offer the parents and pupils of the school. Also, the system will enable us to deliver an efficient, fast service and continue to provide wholesome, healthy and enjoyable meals at the lowest cost. Pupils will be informed of and given training on how to use the system.
When students start school they will have their fingerprint taken to enable them to purchase items from the school canteen. A set meal costs £3.00 per day, but the total amount you provide will be at your discretion. Many students like to top weekly.
Money can be added to their account via ‘Arbor’, alternatively students can pay by cash. Any amount of money can be paid into your account held within the system, money spent on food will be taken out of the system, and you can always check by using the revaluation terminal to see how much you have left.
You are able to see a report detailing each item of food purchased, by logging onto 'Arbor' under the Accounts. You will also be able to view the Dinner Money balance. If you would like to put a cap on how much your child spends per day, please put this request in writing in a letter or an email to office@sirjohncolfox.org and this will be sent to the canteen.
Will I qualify for free school meals? (if you are entitled to Targeted FSM you are also entitled to £25 a year to purchase School Uniform.
There are 2 levels of eligibility: targeted free school meals and expanded free school meals.
Targeted free school meals for families who get:
- Universal Credit and earn less than £7,400 per year
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- the guarantee element of Pension Credit
- households with families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
Families in the Targeted group may be able to access further related benefits, for example, pupil premium and free holiday activities and food (HAF) programme.
Expanded free school meals are for families receiving Universal Credit with earnings over £7,400 per year. They cover free school meals only.
How do I apply for free schools meals?
You can apply by telephone to Dorset Direct on 01305 221000 or apply online by clicking the following link: Apply for free school meals – Dorset Council
You will need to tell Dorset Direct the following personal information:
- Name
- Date of birth
- National Insurance Number (or your registered asylum seeker number)
- Your child’s details, including their name, date of birth and school for which you want free school meals
They will do automated checks to confirm your entitlement and, if you qualify, they will tell you immediately and write to you within three working days of your call to them to confirm it.
Children already approved for free school meals will remain eligible until the end of the 2026-2027 school year. There is no need to reapply until summer 2027.
If your child is in sixth form or further education, please contact their school or college directly to find out how to apply for free meals for young people aged 16 years and older.
More information about this and eligibility for free school meals can be found by clicking the following link: Dorsetforyou.
Allergens
We understand that Allergens amongst children do not stop at the 14 legally defined allergens, and dietary needs can vary greatly across different children and different schools. Please let us know if your child has any specific dietary needs