Snack and Lunch in the ARC

All children in the ARC have the choice to bring either a packed lunch or if they prefer, a School dinner can be ordered.

Some children have specific dietary requirements or sensory needs around food; we advise that safe foods are packed/ordered. If you would like us to keep food and/or snacks on site, please do contact us to discuss.

What do we mean by ‘safe food’?

Safe foods are those that an autistic individual will consistently accept and willingly consume. These foods can provide a sense of security and predictability.

Snack in the ARC

Children in the ARC have two snack times during the day: one in the morning and one in the afternoon. We ask that you provide your child with snack options for these times. We have the facilities to reheat food if your child does not like traditional packed lunches or School dinners. We are also able to heat basic food items such as toast and crumpets.

Lunch in the ARC

We encourage all of our children to sit at the dinner table together whilst eating. We deliver lunch to the children in the setting; we do not access the dinner hall at our mainstream site. We support the children where necessary with using cutlery to cut and pick up their food. Once the children have finished their lunches, we encourage them to tidy up, either by putting their lunchboxes back in their bags or bringing their plate over to the kitchen.

We will always provide an update on their eating during handover at the end of the day. This will be either verbally or via a message.

School dinners

School dinners are ordered daily by the ARC team. If your child is in KS1 or below, they will be entitled to free School meals. If your child is above KS1, then the price of a two-course meal from September 2024 is £2.90.

Due to children who have severe allergies to peanuts, we encourage all parents to select nut-free items for children’s lunches and snacks.