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Dear parents/carers

 

We have been reviewing the advice on Storm Eunice for our region for tomorrow when it is due to be very windy. The north of the county is currently on a red warning, but in the south we are on an amber warning. We will be open tomorrow. Our caretaker will risk assess the building in the morning and SLT will risk assess at break/ lunchtime/ PE times to ensure that it is safe for the children and staff to be outside, if not they will remain in school. If anything changes I will be in contact again. 

 

Best wishes

 

Leila Naldrett

Head of School

Pupil Lunches

Children are able to help themselves to our salad bar daily.

Our cater at Gatehouse is Devon Norse, their food ethos has always been based on high quality ingredients prepared by well-trained catering teams.

As caterers based in the South West, they are blessed to have such a fantastic selection of local produce and suppliers.

Local produce, organic food and healthy eating are fundamental to them. This has helped them achieve Silver Food for Life status across all our schools.

Their meat and poultry is British, which is sourced from farms across Devon and Cornwall to high welfare standards.

They only use free range eggs and have held a Compassion in World Farming Good Egg Award since 2016.

All milk comes fresh from farms across Devon and they work closely with Total Produce to ensure they are always using the best local and seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables.

Their delicious ice cream is made by Langage Farm with milk from their Jersey cows just outside of Ivybridge, on the edge of Dartmoor.

Wykes Cheddar produces our cheese at its Somerset farm and over 50% of the fresh fruit and vegetables are grown on farms in Devon and Cornwall.

All our fish are also responsibly sourced and approved by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

As a Gold Food for Life caterer, they are committed to using local seasonal produce at every opportunity. Devon Norse take pride in serving children with nutritious, freshly prepared meals which they enjoy, helping them to develop a healthy relationship with food.

They support a number of Fairtrade suppliers.

Devon County Council’s Free School Meals holiday voucher scheme – February half-term 2022

 

About the scheme 

 

Devon County Council is supporting families of children who currently receive free school meals during term time with supermarket vouchers to help buy food during the February half-term.

 

You should receive £15 per child for the February break. These vouchers can be used at the following stores: Sainsburys, Tesco, Morrison’s, Asda, Aldi, M&S Food and Waitrose to purchase food over the Christmas Holidays to replace the meals your child would have received at school during the day.   Please note that Tesco/Morrisons/ALDI vouchers can only be used in-store.

 

If you have more than one child entitled to free school meals, you should receive a unique code for each child, as the holiday vouchers are issued separately.   

 

Please note that these codes expire on Monday 28^th April 2022. Once this date has passed, the scheme will expire, and we will not be backdating any payments.

 

Getting the vouchers 

 

Devon County Council has partnered with an organisation called Black Hawk Network to help us distribute these vouchers as quickly as possible via their ‘Select’ website because they have lots of experience managing voucher schemes like this and are working with several other local authorities too. 

 

• To get your vouchers you will need to visit a website called ‘Select’ (www.select-your-reward.co.uk) and input your unique code.  

 

• You will then be able to choose your preferred supermarket and add your vouchers to your basket.  

 

• Please then checkout of the ‘Select’ website by providing an email address for them to send you your chosen supermarket vouchers electronically. There is no option to receive physical vouchers by post.   

 

• Once you have received the vouchers to your email inbox, you can save them to your phone or tablet to use online (depending on the supermarket) or show at the checkout in store. Alternatively, you can print the vouchers off to give to the cashier.   

 

What if I need some help? 

 

If you are struggling to get your vouchers because you don’t have access to the internet or a mobile device to receive and store the vouchers on, and don’t have any friends or family to help, please contact Devon County Council’s education helpline on 0345 155 1019. 

      

Further information 

 

If your child has siblings attending school in a neighbouring authority (for example Plymouth or Torbay) who are also receiving free school meals, the local authority their school is located within will have arrangements to support them over the holidays.   

 

If you received a voucher code for the Christmas Break and haven’t used it to get your supermarket vouchers via Black Hawk’s ‘Select’ website yet, please do so by Thursday 24^th February 2022. Once this date has passed, the scheme will expire, and we will not be backdating any payments.

 

More detailed information about the free school meals holiday voucher scheme, including how to use them and what to do if there’s a problem, is available on Devon County Council’s website. Please visit devon.cc/holidayvouchers or  www.devon.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-in-devon/document/free-school-meals-holiday-voucher-scheme. 

   

There are also some useful FAQs on the Select website along with contact details for any technical support if you have a problem using the codes and accessing your vouchers. Please visit www.select-your-reward.co.uk.  

 

If you’re experiencing severe financial hardship, support is available. Please visit devon.cc/support or  www.devon.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-in-devon/document/support-for-people-and-families for information about how to access local financial support, where to find foodbanks and community larders and what to do if you’re on a low income and need to self-isolate.    

   

Finally, if you have received this message in error, please let us know by calling 0345 155 1019 or emailing freeschoolmeals@devon.gov.uk so we can make sure this vital support gets to the right family.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear parents and carers

 

Morning snack and toast tickets will be available from Tuesday 8th February. These are payable on ParentPay for all years 1 - 6, please ensure payment is made in advance.

 

Many thanks 
School Office