School Lunches

Fresh, Healthy School Lunches – Cooked from Scratch Every Day

At Peppard, we are incredibly proud of our school lunches. Every meal is freshly prepared on site each day by Sally, our dedicated school cook, using fresh ingredients and healthy, child-friendly recipes.

We may have one of the smallest school kitchens in Oxfordshire, but an amazing amount happens inside it!

Freshly Made – Not Just Heated Up

Wherever possible, our food is made from scratch in our own kitchen. Our sauces are homemade and packed with vegetables, which are carefully blended into the sauce – a great way of adding even more goodness to the meals our children already love.

We take the same approach to puddings and treats. When biscuits are served, for example, they are homemade by Sally, with recipes carefully adapted to keep added sugar as low as possible while still making something the children will enjoy.

Our aim is simple: fresh, nutritious food that tastes good and gives children the energy they need for a busy afternoon of learning and play.

Ahead of the New School Food Standards

We are already reviewing our meals in preparation for the Government's updated School Food Standards, which are proposed to come into effect from September 2027.

The new standards place an even greater emphasis on fruit, vegetables and fibre, alongside tighter limits on foods high in sugar, salt and fat. Many of the principles behind the changes are already reflected in the way Sally prepares our meals at Peppard, from using plenty of vegetables to making food from scratch and carefully considering the amount of sugar used in our recipes.

We are proud to be preparing early rather than waiting for the new standards to arrive.

Parents Know What Their Children Are Eating

Our new online meal-ordering system gives parents and carers greater involvement in their child's lunchtime choices.

Families can order meals in advance, discuss the menu together and know exactly what their child has chosen to eat each day. It is another way of building positive conversations about food and encouraging children to make healthy choices.

Fantastic Value – and Hugely Popular!

At just £3.20 per meal, our school lunches offer excellent value for a freshly prepared, balanced meal.

Most importantly, the children enjoy them! We are extremely proud of our excellent school-meal take-up, with as many as 94% of our pupils choosing a school lunch on some days.

Our menu follows a three-week rolling programme, providing plenty of variety and giving children opportunities to enjoy familiar favourites as well as trying different foods.

Free School Meals for Our Younger Children

School lunches are completely free for all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 through Universal Infant Free School Meals.

We encourage families across the school to give our lunches a try. Freshly cooked, packed with goodness and prepared with care – all from our very little Peppard kitchen!

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