Lunch & Catering

If you are the parent, foster parent, network family carer or guardian of children at school and you are on a low income, you could get Free School Meals. Young people who are still at school but receive Income Support in their own right can also receive Free School Meals.

You are entitled to free school meals if you receive any of the following benefits:

  • Income Support
  • Income Based Jobseekers Allowance
  • Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Child Tax Credit with an annual income of less than £16,190, provided they are not receiving Working Tax Credit
  • The ‘Guaranteed’ element of the State Pension Credit
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Please note: People receiving Working Tax Credit, regardless of their income level, do not qualify unless you are receiving Working Tax Credit Run-on. This is paid for 4 weeks after your employment ends or your hours reduce to under 16 hours per week.

To find out if you are eligible, call Leeds Revenues and Benefits Service on 0113 222 4404 (option 1)

To claim Free School Meals

Find out about how to apply for Free School Meals on the Leeds City Council website. 

If you live in Leeds and you already receive Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support:
Contact Leeds City Council on 0113 222 4404 (option 1) if you want to claim a free school meal for your child and they will notify us if you are entitled.

If you live in Leeds and you do not already receive Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support:

Find out if you can claim Housing Benefit on the Leeds City Council website. 

Find out if you qualify for Council Tax Support on the Leeds City Council website.

If you live outside Leeds (if you pay your council tax to a different local authority other than Leeds City Council, but one or more of your children attend a school in Leeds
You need to visit the Leeds City Council website - Apply for Free School Meals page and scroll down to the 'If you do not pay council tax in Leeds' section. There is a Free School Meals claim form that you can download and complete. When completing the form only list those children who attend schools within Leeds.

If you live in Leeds but your child attends a school outside Leeds
You must apply to the local authority where their school is located.

Foster Parents and Family Network Carers
You will need to complete the Foster Parents claim form.

Where do I send my form?
You should send your signed and completed form to Welfare and Benefits, PO Box 911, Leeds LS1 9WJ, or you can hand it in at any One Stop Centre or Community Hub.

At lunchtime, students may have a school dinner or bring a packed lunch. School meals are prepared in-house and the meals are nutritionally balanced to provide your child with the right amounts of nutrients and energy. If your child brings a packed lunch, please ensure it contains the right amount of nutritious food.

As the market leader, Chartwells provides catering and support services to over 360 secondary schools throughout the UK.  

Chartwells is committed to ensuring our meals assist the outcomes of the government's Every Child Matters initiative. This aims to give all children the support they need to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and continue developing throughout their school years.

Committed to helping to develop great eating habits in young people, Chartwells provides nutritious, tasty and tantalising dishes of current food favourites all devised by a team of chefs and freshly prepared by the onsite catering teams. 

With so much good, healthy hot food on offer, the menu has a healthy option to suit all tastes and budgets. In total, Chartwells delivers 57 million quality meals a year to pupils throughout the country.

 

Dining Hall Menus and Price List


Please click on the link to view:

 

Chartwells were awarded a 5 star hygiene rating from Leeds City Council on 11/07/2023