Free School Meals and Clothing Allowance – please ensure if you are entitled, you claim for free school meals and clothing allowance for your child. By applying for free school meals not only will your child be receiving nutritional benefits but you will also be supporting their school. For every pupil that registers for free school meals, their school will receive funding through the Pupil Equity Fund (PEF). This funding can be used to support a wide range of initiatives and can help those who experience barriers to learning. We strongly encourage all parents who are eligible for free school meals to apply for them. Click on the image below for information on eligibility:
School meals at Glaitness are prepared daily in the school kitchen by a team of catering staff. Pupils eat their lunches in two seatings in the dining hall.
All pupils in P1-5 receive free school meals.
A new online school meals payment and ordering system called IPAY Impact as been launched. The new system is available for parents to pre-order and pay for meals.
Once registered parents can regularly input their required meal choice or let us know if their child will be having a packed lunch on any given day. The system can then also be used for purchasing school meals which cost £3.30.
The food is very healthy and wholesome and the children can have a great variety in a week. Each day there is a choice of home-made soup, a hot main course/Vegetarian main course, sandwiches with a choice of fillings including vegetarian choices, fruit/yoghurt or a pudding. There are always salads. A drink of juice / milk is always provided with the meal.
A copy of the menu goes home to each family at the start of the school year and is also posted on the school website on the link above. Vegetarian meals are provided on request, so please let the school know of any special dietary requirements your child has.
Packed Lunch
Some children prefer to take their own packed lunches, and these are also eaten in the dining hall. Children are encouraged to make healthy choices in the packed lunches they bring to school.
Break Time Snacks
A healthy option should always be the first choice when providing your child with a snack at break time eg. Peeled and cut fruit or vegetables, raisins. Salty crisps or chocolate biscuits not only create litter problems but are really not the healthy option. Sweets and fizzy drinks are not permitted to be consumed at any time during the school day.
Please note Glaitness is a nut free school and children should not bring nuts or products that may contain traces of nuts to school due to the allergies of others. Parents/carers are asked not to allow their children to bring these to school. Cans of fizzy drinks and glass bottles should not be brought to school.
Free School Meals
Applications for Free School Meals and Clothing Allowance are made on one form, and should be submitted to Orkney Islands Council for each school year. The eligibility criteria are outlined on the following webpage, where application forms are also available: www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/School-Meals-and-Clothing-Allowances.htm. Application forms can also be obtained from the school and Orkney Islands Council (OIC) Customer Services. Applications must be submitted along with supporting documentation as detailed on the form. A new application is required for each school session. For help with filling out the form and more information on school meals and clothing grants please telephone Education, Housing and Leisure on (01856) 873535, or email: education.grants@orkney.gov.uk, or visit in person at OIC Customer Services.