School Meals/Packed Lunches

Healthy Packed Lunches at Northfields

At Northfields Infants & Nursery School, children’s health, wellbeing and safety are at the heart of everything we do. A balanced lunch helps pupils concentrate, feel energised and enjoy their learning. This page explains our expectations for packed lunches and the support available to families.

Our approach follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) nutrition guidance and the Department for Education’s School Food Standards, which require meals and snacks in schools to be healthy, balanced and nutritious.

At the bottom of this page is the latest school menu. Please discuss this with your child so they can decide what they’d like to eat each day.

Why it matters
  • From September 2025, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requires food provided in schools to be healthy, balanced and nutritious.
  • Packed lunches need to be safe to eat, free from high-risk foods, and supportive of children’s long-term health.
  • All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a free hot school meal every day. These are balanced, freshly prepared and popular with children — with firm favourites like roast day on Wednesday and pizza day on Friday.
What to include in a lunchbox

We encourage parents to aim for a balance across the food groups each day:

  • Proteins – meat, fish, eggs, beans, pulses, or a meat-free alternative
  • Starchy foods – bread, wraps, rice, pasta, couscous, potatoes
  • Fruit and vegetables – fresh, frozen or tinned in juice/water
  • Dairy or dairy alternatives – yoghurt, cheese, milk

Examples of suitable items:

  • Sandwiches or wraps with lean protein
  • Pasta or rice salad (cold, or warm in an insulated container)
  • Vegetable sticks with hummus or yoghurt dip
  • Fresh fruit (cut into safe sizes, e.g. halved grapes)
  • Yoghurt or fromage frais
  • Wholegrain crackers with cheese
  • Water or milk
What not to include

For health, allergy and safety reasons, the following items are not allowed in school lunchboxes:

  • Nuts or nut products – including Nutella, peanut butter, cereal bars or biscuits with nuts (we are a nut-free school)
  • Chocolate bars and sweets
  • Fizzy or energy drinks
  • Highly processed hot foods such as chips, chicken nuggets or cold pizza (unsafe if left at room temperature)

If these items are brought in, staff will remove them and return them home in children’s bookbags.

Food safety and presentation
  • Use a sealed lunch bag with an ice pack, or a frozen drink bottle, to keep food cool.
  • Ready-to-eat food should not be left unrefrigerated for more than 4 hours.
  • Insulated containers can be used for warm items such as pasta or rice.
  • Always cut grapes, cherry tomatoes and similar foods in half (or quarters) to reduce choking risk.
  • Fewer, well-chosen items are better than overloading a lunchbox, which can feel overwhelming for young children. Rotate choices through the week instead of sending everything in one go.
Supporting your child

We know some children are discerning eaters and that this can make preparing lunches more challenging. Introducing new foods gradually is important for long-term health. If you have any concerns about your child’s eating, please speak with us or your GP for advice.

Working together

Our goal is partnership, not policing. Thank you for helping us give every child the best chance to be healthy, safe and ready to learn.

If you would like more information, please contact the school office. We are always happy to share ideas and support you with practical tips for easy, affordable packed lunches.