Address:
William Patten Primary School
Stoke Newington Church Street
London N16 0NX
Headteacher: Karen Law
William Patten Primary School
Stoke Newington Church Street
London N16 0NX
Headteacher: Karen Law
We are pleased to announce that the company selected to provide our menus from 2025 is Caterlink, a specialist education catering company that supplies school meals to schools in Camden and Islington.
The Year 5 School Council members were actively involved in the decision making and I would like to thank Alaa, Grace, Niccolo and Matiu for their contributions throughout the process. They have taken their roles very seriously, offering insightful suggestions and at the same time showing and demonstrating considerable diplomacy! The children attended the initial tasting session by the different companies and their opinions were invaluable in helping us choose the best provider. Once the final menus were submitted, the children reviewed them carefully and based on their feedback, some changes were made to enhance the menu. We are now excited to share the final version with you. We hope the children will enjoy the variety and choices available.
The menus feature freshly made bread each day, a hydration station, and a salad bar. There are jacket potatoes served daily, as well as fresh fruit and yoghurt. Caterlink also accommodates dietary requirements, providing meals for children who are vegan, gluten-free, or have specific allergies.
There are no changes to the expectations for a packed lunch. If your child currently has a packed lunch and wishes to change to the new school dinners, please email admin@williampatten.hackney.sch.uk. If this is the case, then your child would need to stay on school dinners for the half term at least. They can of course continue for longer if they enjoy the new meals!
William Patten Menu – Autumn 2026 to Winter 2027
Lunch menus rotate on a three week basis.
William Patten AutumnWinter 2026/27
PICTURE MENU William Patten Autumn Winter 2026-27
Halal certificate – Annual Certificate – IMS of Smithfield
Meals are cooked on the premises and we work constantly to make sure our meals are healthy, fresh and tasty.
Children are consulted about the menus via the School Council and any suggestions used to inform our planning.
We do not cook beef or pork, and the chicken / turkey we cook is halal. We always have a vegetarian option on the menu and have increased the number of vegan meals we serve. The children eat in the first floor hall and are supervised by meal supervisors. Children are encouraged to eat a balanced meal and try small amounts of new food.
We have a yearly ‘Come Dine With Us’ days for the three Keystages (EYFS, KS1 and KS2) when parents can come in to school and eat with their children to see how excellent the food is. Due to covid restrictions we were unable to host this event for the last few years.
We have a special Christmas dinner at the end of the Autumn term and a special Chinese New Year lunch in the Spring term. To celebrate Hispanic week, we have a Spanish themed menu in June and themed menus throughout the month for Black History as well as embeded throughout the main menu. Children who usually have packed lunches are welcome to have these special themed meals.
Our catering provider Caterlink are moving to an online request and data base for allergy management.
This is following the implementation of the attached allergy management process some of you were all sent previously and the requirement of medical evidence for Caterlink to provide any Special Diet requirements for pupils.
Below is the online process outlined and attached is the form you are required to complete the online form and provide evidence.
This online form them goes to their Nutrition Team to review the request and provide a Special Diet Menu for your child.
By completing this form, you wish to inform the school that your child has a food allergy or intolerance or a food-related medical condition and wish to have a menu provided for your child to have a school lunch.
It is vital that all forms are accompanied with a referral letter from a medical professional (G.P/ consultant /dietician).
This form is not to be used for lifestyle choices such as veganism or religious dietary requirements – the school menu provides for the various lifestyle choices as standard e.g. halal, vegetarian / vegan .
Only parents who have responded / completed and submitted the form and supplied medical information will have a Special Diet Menu available for their child if it is deemed safe to cater for the child.
Below is the link to the form:
Following an announcement from the Mayor of London, from September 2023 all state funded primary school children in London are entitled to a free school meal for the full academic year.
Your child receives their free school meals automatically, and you do not need to apply.
However, your child may also be eligible for extra funding for school from the Government, worth £1,300 per year. This is extra money to spend on enrichment activities, teacher development, and targeted support for the children that need it most. This may also entitle you to other benefits like food vouchers during the holidays.
For funding purposes we would encourage all parents to register by completing an application form even if your child does not wish to receive school meals.
If your child has a packed lunch from home, please ensure it is healthy and nutritious.
According to NHS choices a balanced lunchbox should contain:
Please DO NOT include: drinks with added sugar, chocolate, biscuits or sweets in any form.
A small packet of crisps will be allowed on FRIDAY ONLY.
For ideas on healthy packed lunch options visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/recipes/healthier-lunchboxes/
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/school-packed-lunch-inspiration
https://realfood.tesco.com/curatedlist/lunchbox-ideas-for-kids.html
https://education.hackney.gov.uk/content/recipes-healthy-and-affordable-food
The children in Nursery, Reception and Years 1 and 2 receive fruit every day, as part of the government’s free fruit scheme for children under the age of seven.
