Does your child need a medical special diet to eat lunch at school?
Simply create an account and upload your medical evidence.
For parents and carers with children already at school who require a medical special diet, please create an account and upload your medical evidence. Refer to our FAQ's for how long this may take.
Parents and carers will need to supply a packed lunch until their child’s menu is available.
Once you have created your account, we will be able to review your medical evidence with our in-house nutritionist in order to devise an adapted menu for your child's school lunch.
You can then manage your account quickly, safely and conveniently online. It only takes a few minutes and once you've registered, you can see your child's individual menu and update medical evidence details whenever you need to. We'll also be able to send you updates when your child's new menus are created.
View our allergen matrix if you wish to check if you need to apply for a special diet for your child. As we always offer at least two dishes each day for school lunch, you may find that the alternative dish works and choose not to register your child. In doing so you are taking responsibility for your child's choice. However, we do always strongly recommend full registration for any child with food allergies. Due to its format, the matrix needs to be viewed on a PC, laptop or tablet.
Living with allergies comes with its own set of rules so when it comes to food, as education caterers, we want to make this as easy as possible for you as a family. Our staff are trained in food safety and regularly update their skills on allergens. We never underestimate the dangers of food allergies and intolerances and we know what a big deal this is for you as parents. Trusting someone else to feed your child is a huge responsibility. And that's why we work hard to get it right.
Education Catering has a dedicated special diet team that supports parents with special diet queries for their child. They create menus for children who are registered with Education Catering as having a food allergy or intolerance and who want to have a school meal. Whilst we want all children to enjoy eating lunch at school, special diets are not provided for pupils who have a dislike of certain food. That’s why we require medical evidence that confirms your child’s medical allergy or intolerance. We then work with a dietitian to produce specific diets to ensure food is suitable. Products used in these diets are never substituted.
Leaders in special diets
Education Catering helped to develop school policy standards (issued in 2020) for managing allergen requirements. This included a process for analysing individual pupils. The LACA Allergen Management Guidance for Catering in Education aims to support schools, caterers and pupils in understanding the best practice for caterers in education with regards to managing allergens safely.
View the standards LACA Allergen Management Guidance
We have rigorous procedures and training in place for staff so parents can be assured that it is safe for their child to eat at school. To prevent cross contamination, our school kitchens are unable to accept any products that are brought in by parents or guardians. More information is available in our policy.
If you have any questions then you can check our Frequently Asked Questions page
Or you can call our team on 023 8062 9388, or email [email protected] and one of the team will be happy to help you during office hours.