Lunchtime is an important time for learning and food is a big part of the academy day. Redgate’s excellent food is cooked using seasonal ingredients by our catering assistant. Menus are varied and contain traditional favourites as well as offering the option of a jacket potato with different fillings.
The kitchen team work hard to ensure that everyone’s individual needs are catered for and there is choice and flexibility with the food with small tasters available for children to try different tastes and textures.
Lunches are often used to support the curriculum, particularly for celebrations such as the summer picnic and Christmas when special menus are planned to reflect the event.
We are an allergen aware academy
Do you have a food allergy? Even though we are an allergen aware school please be aware that some of our food may contain allergens, for further clarification on food allergens please speak to a member of the catering team who will be happy to help.
Free school meals
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility has been expanded to include all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings.
Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
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- universal credit
- income-related employment and support allowance
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of pension credit
- Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.
From September 2026, there will be two categories of benefits-based free school meals:
Targeted FSM, which continues to be based on the existing threshold, covering pupils who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
Expanded FSM, a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit
If you think that your child(ren) may be entitled to free school meals then you can either apply online or download a form via the Nottinghamshire County Council website, or phone them on 0300 500 80 80.
Once your application has been approved, the council will inform the academy and we can then start providing free school meals for your child(ren). We treat all recipients with complete discretion.
We are here to help, so contact us if you have any queries or concerns you would like to discuss directly with the academy.
If you are experiencing financial difficulties, your local food bank can help. To arrange a food voucher for your family, visit Sherwood Forest Foodbank, or for further support contact us to talk to someone in confidence.