At Birley Primary Academy, we believe that a daily nutritious meal at lunchtime is an essential part of the school day. It enables pupils to feel re-energised and ready for the afternoon lessons ahead.
Long established education caterers, Taylor Shaw are proud to serve freshly made meals on site for our pupils. Taylor Shaw have become one of the UK’s leading specialist caterers in the primary education sector, using fresh and local produce to build a positive food culture amongst pupils, including fun theme days and food education events to contribute to the welfare of the young people in their learning environment.
With quality and well-being at the heart of the service, Taylor Shaw are committed to providing pupils with an exciting menu, tailored to the palettes and dietary requirements of our pupils. From field to fork, the menu available on site offers innovative yet responsibly sourced, seasonal ingredients from local suppliers with support from Taylor Shaw’s creative food development team.
Our pupils are served by our dedicated catering team of passionate food-lovers that pride themselves on a truly personal service that is compliant and nutritious, backed by the team of Taylor Shaw dietitians.
Each school meal costs £2.95; for a full week the charge is £14.75. Cashless payment should be made in advance through your SchoolComms account. Please be aware that children in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 receive a free academy meal every day if they wish to.
On our menu, we offer a main and vegetarian option each day as well as sandwiches or a Jacket Potato along with a different dessert choice each day. The children can help themselves to limitless water and a pick and mix selection of salad, fresh bread, fruit & yogurt. We actively encourage healthy eating and we aim to provide meals that are low in fat, salt and sugar, and high in fibre. Please see our 3 weekly menu below for the period w/c 1st September to w/c 3rd November 2025. We will be on the Week 3 menu when we return in September
Meals are eaten in the academy’s dining room and children are encouraged to enjoy this social occasion and practise good table manners. If children do not wish to have a school dinner, they may bring a packed lunch from home and these are eaten in the school hall. Please follow the suggestions below for a healthy packed lunch.
Healthy lunches and snacks are important for active children. Recent research has also shown that improving diet can improve concentration, learning and behaviour, although we know healthy eating changes are not always easy to make! Try to encourage your child to be involved in preparing their own lunch and choosing the foods to include.
The key to a healthy lunchbox is to include a balance of foods from the four main food groups:
Foods in the fifth food group, containing fat and sugar, should be eaten in moderation.
A packed lunch should provide a range of nutrients for children. Including a wide variety of foods in a lunchbox will provide this range of nutrients, and prevent children becoming bored with the same foods. Most importantly, children should look forward to and enjoy their packed lunch in school. Children can take a while to get used to food changes, so praise them when they try new foods and save unhealthier foods for occasional treats.
