Lunchtime at St Bernard's

At St Bernard's RC Primary School, lunchtime is about much more than eating.

It is an important part of every child's school day—a time to relax, laugh, play, build friendships and return to learning refreshed and ready for the afternoon ahead.

We believe that the values we teach in the classroom should be lived throughout the entire school day. Lunchtime provides daily opportunities for children to practise kindness, respect, independence, good manners and teamwork in a happy and welcoming environment.

For us, lunchtime is every bit as important as lesson time.

Intent

Our intention is to provide every child with a lunchtime experience that promotes healthy lifestyles, positive relationships, physical wellbeing and a genuine sense of belonging.

We want lunchtime to be a calm, enjoyable and inclusive part of the school day where children feel safe, valued and cared for. It is a time for children to enjoy nutritious food, develop friendships, be physically active and return to class emotionally and physically ready to learn.

Our approach reflects our whole-school commitment to Hearts, Bodies, Voices, Minds Ready.

• Healthy hearts are nurtured through friendships, kindness and a sense of belonging.
• Healthy bodies are supported through nutritious food and active play.
• Positive voices are encouraged through respectful conversation and good manners.
• Ready minds are developed by ensuring children return to learning refreshed and ready to succeed.

Implementation

Children have the opportunity to enjoy a freshly prepared school meal provided by Dolce, offering a wide range of nutritious choices each day. Menus are carefully designed to promote healthy eating while giving children a variety of meals that they enjoy.

Children may also bring a packed lunch from home if they wish. We encourage all packed lunches to reflect our commitment to healthy lifestyles and to follow current Healthy Schools guidance, helping children develop positive eating habits that support both wellbeing and learning.

As part of the Government's Universal Infant Free School Meals programme, all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to receive a school lunch free of charge. We encourage families to take advantage of this valuable opportunity.

Lunchtime is carefully organised to ensure children enjoy a positive balance of eating, socialising and physical activity.

Our dedicated sports coaches lead a wide range of structured games and activities throughout lunchtime, encouraging children to stay active, develop sporting skills, work as a team and enjoy healthy competition. Alongside organised activities, children also have time to play freely, develop friendships and enjoy being children.

Adults play an important role in creating a welcoming lunchtime atmosphere. They encourage positive conversations, model excellent manners, support friendships, resolve difficulties sensitively and ensure that every child feels included.

Lunchtime also provides valuable opportunities for older children to demonstrate leadership, responsibility and care for younger members of our school family, strengthening our sense of community.

Throughout lunchtime, children continue to live The St Bernard's Way, demonstrating kindness, respect, responsibility and consideration for others.

Impact

The impact of our lunchtime provision is reflected in happy, healthy children who enjoy this important part of the school day.

Children develop positive attitudes towards healthy eating and understand how nutritious food helps them to learn, grow and stay active.

They build strong friendships through shared meals, conversations and play, developing communication skills, empathy and respect for others.

Regular physical activity helps children return to class calm, refreshed and ready to learn, while organised sports encourage teamwork, resilience, confidence and enjoyment of exercise.

Children increasingly demonstrate independence through making choices, managing routines and showing good manners during mealtimes.

Families know that lunchtime is a safe, caring and enjoyable experience where children are looked after by adults who know them well and genuinely care about their wellbeing.

Ultimately, our lunchtime provision supports far more than children's physical health.

It strengthens relationships.

It develops character.

It promotes wellbeing.

It builds community.

Because at St Bernard's, every part of the school day is an opportunity to learn, to grow and to flourish together.

That is why lunchtime matters so much to us.

This is how we continue becoming the school God wants us to be.

"Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 10:31