In keeping with previous years, and as was mentioned in my last communication regarding Draft contract costs in March 26, a review of all school meal prices has now been undertaken.
The outcome of this review is that, from Monday 3rd August 2026, the recommended minimum standard school meal prices will be as follows:
This new standard paid meal price of £2.66 now mirrors the Universal Infant / Free School Meal funding rate which is also increasing to £2.66 from September 2026. This is something that FM Services have been working hard to get to over the past few years
with the small, twice annually, incremental meal price increases previously seen. You may also recall, the service held off increasing the meal price in April 26 in favour of this new annual price review each September (*unless of course the funding rate increases
throughout the year, at which point the paid meal price will follow accordingly).
Over the past 12 months, we have continued to see monthly rising food inflation, with an average increase of 4.5% alongside an approx. 5% increase in annual labour costs, with the latter being mainly due to rises in the living wage and the recent Bradford
Council pay band realignment. Despite these huge inflationary pressures, FM Catering have continued to minimise their impact by improving our efficiency and maintaining high meal uptake levels.
Even with this small price increase, school meals in the Bradford district still remain amongst the lowest in the country and are excellent value for money for a nutritionally balanced 2 course set lunch. Our neighbouring authorities, Leeds City Council,
Calderdale Council & Kirklees Council, currently charge considerably more for a Primary school lunch. The new Bradford recommended price is still somewhat behind these, something which we are keen to maintain going forward in following the UIFSM / FSM government
funding rate.
This minimal 11p paid meal price rise will benefit schools by:
- Helping to provide a clear and consistent message that in mirroring the UIFSM / FSM government funding rate all meals, both paid and free, are now invoiced at the same price
- Increasing the paid meal income
- Reducing the net cost of the catering service
- Helping to keep down future contract charges / increases to schools
Please could you inform parents of this increase and include, if possible, details of the
Benefits Service (01274 432771/2/3) to help ensure that those who qualify for free meal entitlement will take up that option.
Your school kitchen Chef Manager has been sent an electronic survey via their tablet that needs to be completed ASAP by all sites in order to acknowledge you are aware of this pending increase and in turn will communicate it with parents prior to the end
of the current academic term. FM Services will then make all necessary system changes, including the updating of ParentPay, Cypad Meal Selection and debt letter values etc, over the summer break to reflect the price increases from 3rd August 2026.
If you do require any further information or clarification, please contact using the details below:
NB: This price increase will bring all FM Catering schools up to the new minimum standard £2.66 per pupil meal price (£2.46 in Nursery schools). Almost all Primary schools in the district currently charge £2.55 per pupil meal. Those few
schools who have their meal price currently set higher than this can of course follow suit and apply an additional increase to maintain their current margin if they see fit. This can be communicated through the kitchen survey you will be asked to complete.
All 2026/2027 Final catering contract costs / Funding Statements etc will be sent out prior to the Summer break to individual schools once the paid meal price at each site is agreed. It’s important to note, charging pupils a lower value paid meal price than
the new £2.66 funding rate serves to ultimately increase the overall cost to the school.