Restaurant and Free School Meals information
Our lunch menu is provided by Taylor Shaw.
We are very proud of the catering service that Meridian High School offers its students. We are one of three schools within the Borough of Croydon to be awarded Food Flagship status. This means that we are committed to raising the standards of the food provision and food education that we deliver to our students and the local community, as well as helping to promote healthier food choices and lifestyle. Our catering team work hard to maintain exceptionally high standards in both the food offered and the facilities provided for an enjoyable dining experience. We have a 5 star hygiene rating in the restaurant and we also offer a delicious range of food served each day with themed menus so that there is something available to cater to everyone's tastes.
The School’s catering is completely cashless. Parents/Carers can make payments and top up their child’s account via the ParentPay website or in cash at local stores where you see the PayPoint logo.
If you add money to the basket in error, you are able to withdraw this by going to the Parent Account Tab and press the Withdraw button at the bottom of the screen.
To top up your child account, please click on the link below:
Free School Meals
Can you help us invest an extra £935 in your child’s education every year?
Schools get extra funding for every child registered as eligible for a free school meal if their parents receive benefits. We use this money for activities including art therapy, booster classes, educational trips and after school clubs.
Free School Meals- Information from Croydon
Even if you do not want your child to receive a free meal, don't let your school miss out on this important extra funding that will benefit your child.
From December 2015 entitlement to Free School Meals will be processed as part of Housing Benefit/Council Tax Support claims by the Benefits Service. Free School Meals are a statutory benefit. Applying for a free school meal could raise up to an extra £1320* per annum for six years for your child’s school (funded by central government). This can help to fund valuable teaching and learning support for your school (and is still paid to the school even if your entitlement ceases).
For the 2025 to 2026 academic year, transitional protection for free school meals is in place, meaning that if a child was eligible for free meals before April 2018 or became eligible after, they will continue to receive them until the end of the 2025 to 2026 school year, even if their household income rises. From the 2026 to 2027 school year, the transitional protection will end, and all households will need to meet the new eligibility criteria to receive a free meal.
Eligibility
Free school meals are available to children of families who are in receipt of:
- Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credi
Transitional Protection
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Until the End of the 2025 to 2026 Academic Year:
This protection continues to apply to ensure children do not lose their free school meal status during this period, even if their household income increases.
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After August 2026:
The protection will no longer be in place, and a household's eligibility will be based on the current criteria, not the protection status.
How to Claim
1. Check Eligibility:
You must make a claim on your child's behalf, and their eligibility needs to be verified by the school or local authority.
Free School Meals online checking for parents
2. Contact Your Child's School:
You can contact your local authority's education department (Croydon Local Authority) or the school directly to check your eligibility and make a claim.
If you believe you are entitled please contact reception or Ms Rebecca Williams at r.williams2@meridianhigh.london or complete an online application.
