Your child has the choice of having a hot school dinner or a packed lunch.
If your child has a school dinner, he or she will be encouraged, but not forced, to choose a balanced meal from the dishes available. This should include one choice from the protein group, at least one choice from the carbohydrate group, at least two choices from the fruit, vegetables and salad group and one choice from the sugar and fats group.
Payment for school dinners is accepted on either a daily or a weekly basis. On a daily basis the correct money should be sent in a dinner money pot (available from your child's class teacher). On a weekly basis, payment is by cash or by cheque. If you wish to pay by cheque it should be made payable to Thurrock Borough Council and have your cheque guarantee card number and address on the reverse. The cost of a meal is £1.60 (£8.00 for a full week) from 14 January 2008. Should your child be ill or wish to have a packed lunch on one of these pre-paid days a credit will be carried forward to the following week.