School Meals
All children are expected to take a school lunch. School meals, freshly cooked in our own kitchens, offer good value for money and provide a healthy, balanced diet. There is always a choice of menu, including salads and a vegetarian dish, and special diets can be catered for if we are given adequate notice. Only children with severe and specific food allergies may bring in a packed lunch. School meals must be paid for in advance, either weekly (on a Monday), or half-termly. The current price is to found in the loose-leaf section at the back of this prospectus. Families receiving income support are entitled to free school meals; application forms are available from the school office.

Charging policy
It is the governors’ policy to charge parents for board and lodging fees on residential school journeys. A charge is also made towards the cost of individual or group instrumental music lessons. The school may also charge for the cost of specific ingredients or resources used. In these cases pupils may take the finished article home at the end of the session. Voluntary contributions are requested from parents to help cover the cost of travel and entrance fees on day visits. No child is prevented form attending an outing if his or her parents are unable to make a contribution. However visits may have to be cancelled if sufficient funds are not raised. When items of school property are lost or damaged, parents will be asked to contribute to the cost of replacement.

Formal Complaints
If you have a concern about anything at school, please discuss it first with your child’s class teacher and then, if there is still a problem, with the Headteacher. If you are still dissatisfied you can make a formal complaint under Section 23 of the Education Reform Act 1988 to the Chair of Governors or to the Local Authority about the curriculum or any related matter.

Further Information
You are legally entitled to access the following documents held in school:

•  St Mary’s RC Primary School’s Curriculum Policies and Schemes of Work;
•  All Department for Children, Schools and Families information relating to the curriculum and assessment details relating to your child;
•  Any published Ofsted reports on the school and the school’s response (Action Plan);
•  St Mary’s current School Development Plan;
•  Governors’ meetings minutes.