Got a question for us?
Our menus are produced centrally by our Food Development team and each recipe is tested in schools before making it on to our menu cycles. Our Cooks provide feedback on the recipes twice a year and this feedback influences future menu planning.
You can apply for benefit related free school meals online at:
www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
All Key Stage 1 pupils are automatically entitled to free school lunches in England.
You will only be required to register your child with HCL if they require a special dietary menu - for allergy, intolerance or lifestyle reasons (e.g. vegan). You can apply online via the Allergies link on this website. In all other cases, the registration for school meals is managed by each school. Visit this page to find out more about the process at your child’s school.
We do not require online applications for vegetarian diets as we already provide a daily vegetarian option as standard.
Depending on how your School is set up for ordering lunch with HCL, normally payments for school meals are made directly to the ordering system or school that your child attends. Please click on this link to see how your school places orders with HCL.
HCL does not use Halal meat as standard. If there is a significant requirement within a school we can potentially offer a Halal provision alongside our main offering, but this will only be offered if agreed and instructed to do so by the school.
HCL has a rigorous process in place to provide a safe meal service to pupils with food allergies or intolerances, which we supply on behalf of your child's school. If your child has a food allergy or intolerance and meets the qualifying criteria, then we have a range of delicious and nutritious menus designed especially for your child's medical requirement. Please follow this link to find out more.
Your child can choose which day/s they would like to eat a school lunch provided by HCL. Please check this link to see how your school orders it's meals.
HCL is able to provide a small number of recipes from our current menu, for parents to recreate at home. Please use the contact form or email us on HCL.Info@hcl.co.uk
HCL is pleased to offer a range of delicious menus to support hospitality requirements. Whether for a breakfast meeting, to welcome your visitors, a Governors' dinner or refreshments for staff attending Parents' Evenings, HCL can provide you with a tailored service which fulfils your hospitality needs. Simply call your HCL Contract Manager or call our Head Office on: 01707 292500.