School Meals
School Meals at Gorse Hill Primary
At Gorse Hill Primary, we are proud to offer tasty, nutritious school meals that children really enjoy. All lunches are freshly prepared on site each day by our skilled kitchen team. Children can choose from a range of menu options, and we are happy to accommodate most dietary needs and requirements.
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a free school meal, and we strongly encourage families to take advantage of this offer. Our menus are carefully planned by our school cooks in partnership with Trafford Catering and can be viewed here.
Gorse Hill School Meals Menu
For children who are not eligible for universal free meals, the cost of a school lunch is £? per day. Payments must be made via ??? and are added daily. Please ensure the school is informed of any food allergies or intolerances—this information can be submitted through Arbor ???.
Changing Lunch Options
Parents may choose between a school meal or a packed lunch at the start of each new term. If you wish to change your child’s current option, please notify the school office in writing by the end of the first week of term. If no notification is received, your child will remain on their existing lunch arrangement.
Free School Meals
If you believe your child may be eligible for free school meals, you can apply online by clicking here:
https://apply.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/sims-trafford
Your child may qualify if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (with an annual gross income of £16,190 or less and not receiving Working Tax Credit)
- Working Tax Credit run-on (for four weeks after stopping Working Tax Credit)
- Universal Credit (applied for on or after 1 April 2018, with a household income of less than £7,400 per year after tax, excluding benefits)
Children who receive these benefits in their own right, rather than through a parent or guardian, may also be eligible.
Your child may also qualify if:
- You are an asylum seeker
- Your child is under compulsory school age but attends full-time education
How Long Does Eligibility Last?
Children who become eligible for free school meals under the current benefits-based criteria will continue to receive them under transitional protection until at least the end of the 2025/26 school year (July 2026), even if family circumstances change.
From the 2026/27 school year (starting September 2026), transitional protections are expected to end. At that point, continued entitlement will depend on meeting the free school meal eligibility criteria at the time eligibility is checked. From September 2026, all children from households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals, regardless of household income.
If you need any further information or would like support with completing an application, please contact the school office—we are always happy to help.
