Innovate - Our school Catering provider
At St Matthew’s, our catering provider, Innovate, is dedicated to offering all pupils an extensive range of homemade, healthy meals that comply with government healthy food standards.
- Menus are regularly updated and incorporate input from pupils to reflect current high-street trends.
- All recipes and menus are nutritionally analyzed by Innovate’s Nutrition Team to meet healthy eating criteria.
We provide three daily services:
- Breakfast – Start the day with a range of nutritious options.
- Morning Break – A variety of snacks and light bites are available.
- Lunchtime – Balanced meals with plenty of choices to suit every taste.
Cashless Catering
The canteen operates a cashless catering system. Parents must use ParentPay to top up their child’s lunch account. ParentPay is also used to pay for trips and events in school, providing a secure and convenient system for all payments. You can find out more about Parent Pay on our Schools Apps page.
Free School Meals
We strongly encourage all parents and carers to check if their child is eligible for Free School Meals (FSM). Registering for FSM provides valuable support for your child and helps the school access additional funding, which benefits all students.
How to Apply
Applying for Free School Meals is quick and straightforward, taking just a few minutes. Parents and carers are responsible for submitting applications on behalf of their child. You can apply for free school meals using this SIMS OFSM application form.
Free breakfast is available to all students (Bagel or Porridge) every morning from 8am.
Eligibility Criteria
Your child may qualify for Free School Meals if you receive any of the following:
- Universal Credit (with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as determined by your three most recent assessment periods).
- Income Support.
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
- The Guarantee Element of Pension Credit.
- Child Tax Credit (as long as you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and 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 meet any of these criteria, don’t miss out on this valuable support. If you need assistance with applications, please contact finance@smrchs.com
