School meals

We provide school meals to 57 primary schools and eight secondary schools and one joint campus across the Borders.

We use Scottish suppliers George Anderson Ltd for fresh fruit and vegetables, free range eggs (Glenrath Farms Ltd, Peebles) milk (Bonaly Farm Dairy, Loadhead) and bread (The Premium Bakery, Prestonpans). For our fresh meat and fish we use supplier local to the Scottish Borders, Shaws Fine Meats. We also use UK suppliers Brakes.

Please be aware that products/dishes may change at short notice and without warning due to the ongoing supply chain issues. Product changes should be communicated through individual schools.

Nutritional requirements

In April 2021 the Scottish Government implemented the new Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020, where there are 13 food and drink standards and 14 nutrient standards, to which all our school menus now fully comply.

With these changes now in place we continue to strive to produce nutritionally balanced meals to help towards meeting individuals’ nutritional requirements over the course of one week, which are aligned with these new standards.

These changes aim to use a whole school approach to health and wellbeing, giving children the right facts and information, so they can make more positive food and drinks choices as they develop and grow, as well as reduce diet-related health inequalities.

Key changes includes:

• increasing access to fruit and vegetables providing children with three of their ‘five a day’
• reducing the amount of sugar that can be accessed in school
• bringing the provision of red and red processed meat in line with the Scottish Dietary Goals
• All bread and bread products and breakfast cereals must now have a minimum 3g of AOAC fibre per 100g.
• Reduction of pastry products provided throughout the school week
• As well as a weekly energy tolerance, a new daily tolerance has also been introduced.

Food For Life Award

We are proud to hold the Food For Life Served Here Bronze award in nursery and primary schools, and have done since 2019.

The award scheme is funded by the Scottish Government and supports local authorities to put more local food on the table and serve fresh, healthy and sustainable meals in schools. The scheme aims to help tackle the many issues and concerns facing our planet. Making small changes to the way we grow, produce, buy, cook and eat our food will help build a more positive future for us all.

In order to comply there are 13 standards which we must meet. Below are a few of those standards which are reflected in our primary school and nursery menus:

• At least 75% of dishes on the menu are freshly prepared
• All meat is from farms which satisfy UK animal welfare standards (ie. Red tractor assured, QMS)
• All fish must be Marine Conservation Society approved and not be on their ‘fish to avoid’ list
• Eggs are from free range hens
• Where possible vegetables are purchased in season

Universal Free School Meals

If your child is in Primary 1-5 then they will be entitled to a free school meal in line with the current Scottish Government free school meal scheme.

Free school meals

You may also be eligible to claim free school lunches for your child.

Ordering Meals