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My School Meals Account

I have a question about my Pantry School Meals account

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Contact Us About Your School Meals Account

Most customer queries about School Meals are answered in the Frequently Asked Questions Below.

My School Meals Account

You can register your child's account using this link Please ensure you only create one account and make sure you choose the correct class and year, otherwise it can cause confusion at lunch time and your child may not get their ordered meal.
Tags: Register, new account, new starter
If you have forgotten the password for your childs Pantry account, you can reset your password using this link. If you are still unable to login, please call 020 8813 7040, 7.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Tags: forgot password, reset, forgotten password, login, account
When you signed up for your childs Pantry account you will have received an email with your childs pupil ID number.

If you are unable to locate this in your email inbox, please use the Forgot Pupil ID tool
Tags: forgot, password, link pupil ID, ID, ID number, login
You will need to set up and verify a Pantry account for each child and set their food allergens, If you use the same email address for all your children's accounts and they attend the same school, the accounts will automatically link.

You will be able to toggle between the accounts once logged in to any of the sibling's accounts by selecting the child's name for the account you wish to access. You can find this on the top right-hand side of the banner at the top of your Pantry account page.
Tags: own account, allergen, individual, link account, account
If you would like to update any details on your child's Pantry account, either email us from the email address registered on the Pantry account, or call our Customer Service Team on 020 8813 7040 7.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Tags: change, office, update, account, details, email, telephone number class, year
If you use the same email address for all your childrens accounts and they attend the same school, the accounts will automatically link. You will be able to toggle between the accounts once logged in to any of the sibling's accounts by selecting the child's name for the account you wish to access. You can find this on the top right-hand side of the banner at the top of your Pantry account page.
Tags: Add, Another Child, Add Pupil, registered, link
If you would like other people to be contacted when we send out emails, you can add the email address by selecting Settings in your Child's Pantry account and then clicking 'Additional Contact'
Tags: Additional contact, email
If your child has moved to another school where lunches are provided by the Pantry, we can transfer your childs account. If they have changed to another meal provider, we can close your account and refund any credit on your account to your original payment card.

Please use this link to notify us about your child's school move.
Tags: Moving, school, refund, transfer, left
We recommend setting up and activating your childs Pantry account, so we can let you know about your childs school special theme day lunches throughout the year.
Tags: Theme day, activate, account, packed lunch
If you have selected that your child has a food allergy in your childs Pantry account, your account will be temporarily blocked, so we can discuss the best way to support your childs medically diagnosed food allergy.

Please email Nutrition@thepantrycatering.co.uk who will investigate and come back to you with an update.
Tags: Our chefs are still preparing meals, allergies, intolerance, allergen
If you would like to close your child's Pantry account and their is no balance to refund, or you would like the balance transferred to a siblings account then please email our Customer Service Team on office@thepantrycatering.co.uk from the email address registered on your child's account.

We can also refund your child's Pantry account balance back to the original payment, please call our Customer Service Team on 020 8813 7040 7.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and have your payment card to hand.

If your child has packed lunches, we recommend keeping your childs Pantry account open, so we can let you know about your childs school special theme day lunches throughout the year.
Tags: close, transfer, refund, accounts, credit, left
We can refund your child's Pantry account balance to the original payment card. Please call our Customer Service Team on 020 8813 7040 Monday to Friday,7.30am to 5pm and have your payment card ready.
Tags: refund, leave, cancel, payment, account, left

Ordering School Meals

You can order meals anytime up to your childs school ordering cut-off. After the cut-off, the meals are sent to our chef who freshly prepares them to order, which is why we cannot place orders after this time. If your childs lunch is not booked prior to your schools cut-off time, your child will receive a jacket potato with baked beans, vegetables of the day and fruit for dessert. You will receive an email and your account will automatically be charged for the meal.
Tags: order cutoff, deadline, latest, book, cut off
Parents can book daily, weekly or for the entire term, ordering meals in a way that works for you and your child.
Tags: menus, term, order, book
You can cancel orders and get an automatic refund anytime up to your childs school ordering cut-off.

After the cut-off, the meals are sent to our chef who freshly prepares them to order, which is why we cannot refund after this time. Remember to cancel orders for when your child is not in school, or on a school trip.

Log into your child's Pantry account and select the relevant week and day, un-tick the box and click save choices.
Tags: cancel, cut off time, un-tick, choices, credit, refund, sick
If your childs lunch is not booked prior to your schools cut-off time, we will be unable to place an order and your child will receive a jacket potato with baked beans, vegetables of the day and fruit for dessert.

You will receive an email at lunch time and your child's Pantry account will automatically be charged for the meal, please ensure there are sufficient funds on your child's Pantry account.
Tags: missed, cut off, orders, funds, policies, processed
Once you have selected the your child's meal choices for the week, simply click save choices and allow a moment for the system to place your order.

When this is completed you well see a green banner saying ''order saved'' and at the bottom of the right hand side of the menu for that week you will see your order reference number.
Tags: save choices, place, order, saved, reference, number

Free School Meals / Vouchers

All children in Key Stage 1 (Reception, Year 1, and Year 2) can have a free lunch under the Universal Infant Free School Meal Programme. Children in other year groups may be entitled to free school meals should they qualify.

More information can be found on the government website.
Tags: reception, year 1, year 2, free, KS2, gov, forms, free school meals, free
All parents need to book meals for their children, even if your child has free school meals. Check out our menus via your childs Pantry account.
Tags: Free school meals, order, book
If your child is entitled to free school meals other than via the Universal Infant Free School Meal programme for children in Key Stage 1 (Reception, Year 1, and Year 2), we will need the school to confirm eligibility before we can set your childs account to free school meals.

If you believe you are being incorrectly charge please speak to you school office who will check their records. If the free entitlement should be applied they will need to email our customer service department and we can then apply the entitlement
Tags: Free school meals, top up, top-up, account
The Pantry does not issue any vouchers for free school meals outside of term time. If you need vouchers, please contact the school directly, who will be able to support you.
Tags: Voucher, free school meals, free meals
The Pantry do not accept childcare vouchers for the payment of school lunches.
Tags: Childcare, child care, vouchers, payment free school meals

Payment / Credit

If you pay for meals for your child you will need to top-up. You can do this by selecting top-up in your childs Pantry account and following the online instructions. Make sure you use a debit or credit card registered to a UK bank account - sorry, we do not accept AMEX.
Tags: top-up, account, payment, credit
Please make sure you are paying with a credit or debit card registered to a UK bank account, sorry, we do not accept AMEX. When topping-up, make sure you use the same address and postcode as registered with your bank.
Tags: declining, card, bank, address, postal code, top up, top-up

To transfer balance from your account to another account that you own, please log in and click Settings -> Transfer Balance

Tags: transfer, ID numbers, amount, top up
If you have topped-up the wrong siblings account, please give our Customer Service Team a call on 020 8813 7040 Monday to Friday 7.30am to 5pm, and they will be able to transfer the credit to the correct account.
Tags: top up, top-up, payment, wrong account

Allergies

1.WHY IS MEDICAL CORRESPONDENCE REQUIRED?

Medical correspondence confirming the allergy is required to ensure ultimate safety of the pupil by providing complete transparency of their food allergies or intolerances. It also gives us an indication of tolerance levels and possible reactions to look out for meaning we can provide a much more concise menu for the pupil

2.WHAT IF THE PARENT/SCHOOL WONT PROVIDE A MEDICAL NOTE?

For the safety of the pupil and The Pantry staff special diet requests submitted without a medical note, signed by a Doctor will not be processed.

3.HOW LONG DOES THE SPECIAL DIET PROCESS TAKE FROM START TO FINISH?

From the moment the special diet team receive a special diet request with all the required correspondence there is a maximum turnaround of three weeks

4.WHAT FOOD IS THE PUPIL PROVIDED DURING THE THREE-WEEK TURNAROUND TIME?

Whilst the pupil is awaiting their special diet menu they can be provided with a suitable jacket potato option or alternatively bring in a packed lunch from home

5.WHAT IF THE PUPIL DOESNT LIKE A RECIPE INCLUDED ON A SPECIAL DIET MENU?

The special diet menus are used across a number of our schools, by a number of different pupils therefore it is impossible for us to safely cater for individual likes and dislikes. The special diet menu will consist of one hot main meal in addition to a suitable jacket potato option, so the pupils will always have a choice

6.CAN THE PARENT SEND IN FOOD FROM HOME TO BE PRODUCED IN THE SCHOOL KITCHEN?

We believe our special diet menus are balanced and varied and offer pupils an excellent food offer that meets their needs therefore there is no required need for parents to send in food from home. We understand that in extreme medical conditions where food choice can be extremely limited (e.g. PKU) that specialist foods are provided on prescription to families, in such cases we will work with families on an individual basis

7.WHAT DOES MAY CONTAIN MEAN ON PRODUCT LABELS?

Manufacturers use may contain warnings on product labels to warn consumers of a risk of cross contamination during the production stage of an unwanted allergen in the final product. The Pantry policy is that we will treat such warnings as contains to reduce the risk to our special diet pupils. Any special diet menu will remove products with may contain declaration for the appropriate allergen.

8.IS THERE ANY ALLERGY OR INTOLERANCE THE PANTRY CANT OR WONT CATER FOR?

Every special diet request will be considered however there may be rare occasions when we have to reject a special diet request based on safety concerns for the pupil. For example: if the pupil has a high volume of allergies or intolerances that makes providing a balanced menu impossible or if the pupils allergies are so highly sensitive the production risk to too great. This decision is not taken lightly.
Tags: Allergy, Allergen, Doctor, dietary requirements, gluten
If your child has a food allergy and requires a special dietary-adjusted menu, please login to your childs Pantry account and set your childs allergen information in the dietary preferences section.

Once you set the food allergies and confirm your child has supporting medical documentation, your childs account will be blocked, and a member of our Customer Service Team will reach out to discuss the next steps and refer you to our Nutritionist if required.

It can take three weeks to get a special dietary-adjusted menu finalised once we receive your medical documentation.
Tags: allergies, dietary requirements, gluten
Please email Nutrition@thepantrycatering.co.uk who will assist on all allergen queries
Tags: allergies, intolerance, allergy, dietary requirements
We clearly label our meals with the type of meat in each dish to make ordering meals easy, if your child does not eat beef or pork, you can choose from our vegetarian or jacket potato options.
Tags: beef, pork, dietary preference, meat

Food Options

We change our menus twice a year; in September, and February half term.
Tags: menus, meals, change
A salad bar with freshly prepared salad is available daily to accompany your child's hot meal, your child is welcome to help themselves to the salad bar. Fresh fruit is offered as an alternative to the daily dessert.
Tags: salad, fruit, dessert, salad, menu, portion, healthy option
We ensure food served in our schools meets the school food standards, so that children have healthy and balanced diet.

The Pantry takes into account children's favourite dishes, season, dietary considerations and the introduction of new products before creating our menus.
Tags: menu, food, dietary, healthly, balanced, diet, meal, recipe
Yes. Everything we do is carefully monitored for quality, School Food Plan Compliance, Health and Safety, and food hygiene standards.

Our staff are trained in food hygiene, and all supervisors have been suitably trained to carry out their duties. Each school enjoys the support of an Area Operations Manager who carry out regular visits and spot checks.
Tags: quality, food plan, safety, hygiene, standards, food
We offer a hot vegetarian option on our menu every day, as well as jacket potatoes and in some school sandwiches.
Tags: Vegetarian,

Contacting Us

Our Customer Service team is available from 7.30am-5.30pm Monday to Friday by emailing office@thepantrycatering.co.uk. Please include your childs pupil ID so we can access your account.
Tags: Customer service, email address, telephone, contact
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Doing our part to reduce waste

We don't like waste here at The Pantry, so we've been working with our community to make sure that no good food is binned. At the end of each day, any left-over food is given away to our local church for the homeless whilst left-over bread is supplied to a local farm to feed their animals.

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The Pantry partner with local farm for eggs

We believe that wherever possible, ingredients should be sourced as local as possible, thats why we've partnered with a local farm to provide us with our eggs.

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