Catering and Free School Meals

Catering 

We all know how important eating healthy food is during the school day and how it impacts both attainment and behaviour of pupils.  Research consistently shows that when students eat a balanced meal with at least 2 portions of fruit or veg, protein and carbohydrate they are more engaged and maintained higher levels of concentration throughout the afternoon. 

Innovate Catering provide pupils with access to bread and salad every day and there is no added sugar or salt, no confectionary or chocolate and no high sugar drinks served.   We also ensure there is ample choice for vegetarians and those with special dietary requirements and offer a fantastic array of mains and desserts while fresh fruit, salad and delicious pasta are always available. 

Only the highest quality produce 

Everything has to start with fantastic quality and responsible food. We buy seasonal British produce, farm assured meat, Fairtrade coffee and chocolate, and fish from sustainable stocks. Our sourcing strategy always considers quality, location and welfare; meaning that our customers enjoy high-quality fresh food. We have also adopted the European Chicken Commitment across our entire supply chain and will be working with our suppliers to meet all the standards in it by 2026. 

Across our wide, diverse and ever-changing menus, we ensure that every single morsel is safe, sustainable and tastes great. We only source from farmers, wholesalers and catering butchers that are audited to UKAS accredited standards and meet the highest possible assurance levels.

Houstone School Lunch Menu

Houstone School Lunch Prices

Free school meals

The qualifying benefits to receive free school meals for children in Year 3 and over are:

  • Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods) 
  • Income Support 
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance 
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance 
  • support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 
  • the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit 
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and you have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190) 
  • Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit) 

If you think you qualify go to Free school meals | Central Bedfordshire Council or contact Central Bedfordshire Council on 0300 300 8306.