School Meal Price Increase – June 2025
11th June 2025
Dear Parents and Carers
Increase in School Meal Price
As you may know, our school meals are provided by Aspens Services. This company operates across the majority of schools within the Cabot Learning Federation, and feedback on Aspens’ meals has been good. We are committed to working with Aspens to ensure our school continues to offer nutritious, diverse, and culturally inclusive meals, including vegetarian and vegan options, school favourites, and dishes inspired by global cuisines.
For the past 2.5 years, the price of a school meal has remained at £2.40. We have been able to achieve this despite the cost of food, staffing, and other essential services rising substantially. However, following a detailed review of our catering provision, we have found the current pricing no longer covers the cost of providing the meals.
From 16th June 2025 the price of a school meal will therefore increase to £2.75. This new price has been decided following a thorough benchmarking review of operating costs and service sustainability and will ensure we can fulfil our priority ambition of offering high-quality, nutritious, and good value meals for our students, without impacting on school funds which are essential to educating our students.
We understand that any increase in costs can be a concern for families, and we are doing everything we can to keep meals at an affordable level while also preserving high standards.
Free School Meals
If your child is in Years R, 1 or 2 or eligible for benefit related Free School Meals, they will continue to receive free meals.
You may qualify for benefit related Free School Meals if you receive any of the following:
- Income support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (without Working Tax Credit and income below £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on (for 4 weeks after stopping eligibility)
- Universal Credit (with household income under £7,400/year after tax)
How to apply
We would encourage you to make an application, even if you are not sure whether you will qualify. You can apply online via the North Somerset Council’s Citizen’s Portal at https://n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/schools-learning/local-schools/free-school-meals and will receive an instant response. Please note that your entitlement cannot be backdated. If you are already eligible for benefit related Free School Meals please DO NOT reapply, as you may lose your entitlement.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office.
Kind regards
Mrs Samantha Hodder
Principal
