Nut-Free Environment.

As parents and carers of Alver Valley schools are well aware, we are a nut-free environment.
We have a number of students at Alver Valley Schools who have severe allergies including air-borne nut allergies.
It is important that no food containing nuts is present in lunchboxes or on school site.  We ask parents to be vigilant that no items containing nuts are included in lunchboxes to ensure the health and safety of all of our pupils.  Please be particularly vigilant around spreads and cereal and muesli bars as many of these do contain nuts.  (see below)
According to the NHS, the most common foods that may be in lunchboxes and that can cause allergic reactions to nuts are:
  • Baked goods such as cakes and slices
  • Biscuits and cookies
  • Chocolate and chocolate spreads
  • Trail mix
  • Muesli bars and health bars
As part of a healthy lunch, none of these items should be present anyway.
As a school, we do not envisage this being a problem as our school should be nut-free anyway.
If our lunch team come across any nut based items, they will be removed from their lunch boxes, our safeguarding team will be made aware and a phone call home will be made.   If the item represents a significant part of their lunch, you will be asked to bring in alternative food.
Thank you for supporting us in creating a safe place for all our children.

School Meals

School meals are cooked on the premises by the school’s caterers HC3S. Children are offered a wide, varied menu including daily fresh fruit and vegetables.

HC3S ethos is about food to help your children flourish, by providing nutritious food, cooked fresh every day in their kitchens and which is responsibly sourced, giving children a balanced diet with healthy food choices that aid concentration levels and give them energy to focus, learn and play.

All the meat is British, fish is from sustainable sources and as much food as possible, is locally sourced. They bake their own bread too.

Menus and special diets

The two-course ‘classics’ menu lunch consists of a protein rich main course, vitamin-packed vegetables along with rice, pasta dishes or potatoes to give your child energy to keep them alert all afternoon. They also offer a choice of homemade bread and fresh fruit with every meal to top up those growing bodies. Children can choose from a choice of meat/fish or vegetarian main meal each day plus a dessert. In addition, your child can also choose from a wide choice of unlimited salad from the salad bar.

Alver Valley Schools has also chosen to offer the jacket potato menu.

All options represent good value for money and remember children in year 1 and 2 receive universal free school meals regardless of income. Income related free school meal details are also available for all year groups if you meet qualifying eligibility. Free school meals | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)  

Visit the HC3S website for an easy guide on how to apply for a medically registered special diet if your child needs one. They specialise in special diets so you can be rest assured that your child will have a diet catered to meet their needs and you can have peace of mind.

In year 3-6 meals school meals are purchased. The most convenient way to pay for school meals is via our online payment system Scopay.   All parents are issued with login details.  Alternatively you can pay the school office directly.  All dinners must be paid in advance.   Alternatively children may bring in their own packed lunch.

Please click on the Scopay logo to visit the login page.

Theme Day Events and Campaigns

Theme days and healthy eating campaigns are really popular in our schools and a great way to encourage your children to try new food so look out for these throughout the year. From World Book Day to the national Eat Them to Defeat Them schools programme that we support, they are fun and friendly and celebrate an enjoyment of flavours. They will be advertised in advance through the school.

You can find the current menu on the HC3S Facebook page at 3 pm for the following day’s menu (5 pm on Sunday) or online, with our core theme day information and more about our food on our website

Getting in touch

You may also meet the team at parents’ evenings, a food assembly or a cooking or healthy eating demonstration. 

HC3S value your feedback and would love you to follow them and post a review on their Facebook page. Alternatively, you can use the form from this link: Get in touch | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)