Parents & CarersSchool Meals & Parent Pay
Breakfast
At HFCS we know that breakfast is essential to is to ensure no child starts the school day too hungry to learn. Each morning, on both sites, we provide a free breakfast the dining hall for students. This is open between 8am – 8.30 am.
Cashless Catering & School Payments
To help make school payments as straightforward and secure as possible, we operate a cashless payment system for school meals, educational visits, and any other school-related contributions. This provides peace of mind, as students do not need to carry cash that could be lost or misplaced. Please note that cash payments cannot be accepted for any school-related expenses.
We use ParentPay and encourage all parents and carers to support the school by making payments through this system. ParentPay provides a secure and convenient way to pay for school meals, trips, and other activities online at any time. Once funds have been added to a student's account, any purchases made within school will be deducted automatically. Students entitled to free school meals will have their allowance credited to their account each school day.
Guide to setting up and using Parent Pay
Our cashless catering system operates using students' school ID cards. When purchasing food or drinks, students simply present their ID card at the till, allowing the cost of their items to be deducted from their ParentPay account balance. This system is quick, secure, and helps reduce queuing times during busy periods.
Students are expected to bring their ID card to school each day. If an ID card is lost or damaged, a replacement card can be arranged through the school. The use of ID cards helps ensure that accounts remain secure and that students can access catering services efficiently.
Olive Dining
At HFCS, we recognise the important role that healthy eating plays in supporting our students’ wellbeing, concentration, and success in the classroom. A balanced and nutritious lunch helps provide the energy needed for learning throughout the school day, and we are committed to promoting healthy food choices for all members of our school community.
Our catering company, Olive Dining, offer a varied selection of freshly prepared hot and cold meals each day. Students can choose from a range of options, including vegetarian dishes, ensuring that there is something to suit different tastes and dietary requirements. We also ask parents and carers to support our healthy eating ethos by ensuring that any food brought into school, whether as part of a packed lunch or snack, is nutritious and appropriate for the school environment.
Students who choose to have a school meal can select from the daily menu, which includes a main meal and dessert and a drink from the dispensers . A selection of food and drinks is also available for purchase during morning break. Please note that students will need sufficient funds available on their ParentPay account to make break-time purchases.
Our menus are reviewed regularly to provide variety and maintain high nutritional standards. The menu operates on a three-week cycle and is updated twice each academic year. The current menu, along with further information about our catering provision, can be found below.
Free School Meals
If your child may be eligible for Free School Meals, parents and carers should apply through the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Eligibility is assessed by the local authority, and successful applications help ensure that students receive their full entitlement while also enabling the school to access additional funding to support learning and wellbeing.
Once eligibility has been confirmed, your child’s school meal account will be automatically credited with their daily Free School Meal allowance.
For further information about eligibility criteria and the application process, please follow the link below to the London Borough of Waltham Forest website, where you can access guidance and complete an application online.
Please note that the Free School Meal allowance can only be used to purchase food at lunchtime. If your child wishes to buy food or drinks during morning break, they will need to have additional funds available on their ParentPay account.
