Supporting allergies, SEND and medical needs

We believe that the lunchtime experience should be inclusive, so we've created a menu for September 2026 that enables children to eat together regardless of allergies, special diets and medical needs. 

Allergies

Our main menu is fully inclusive - with adaptations for gluten and dairy intolerances identified.

If your child has an intolerance to another food or allergen your school will ask you to send in details and any medical information that confirms what accommodations we need to make to ensure your child can eat safely.

If your child has a severe allergy, or you are particularly worried, we ask that you meet with our Catering Manager, who will talk through adaptations to the menu, which you will be asked to sign off to say that you are happy with the arrangements. Email nourish@asseteducation.co.uk if you would like to make an appointment with Jon Ellis, our Catering Manager.

We will be in touch annually to check the information that we have is current.

Diabetes and other medical needs

On this website you can find the ingredient list, allergens and nutritional information for each of our meals. If your child's needs require an adapted menu, or you would simply like to discuss arrangements with our catering manager, please let us know at nourish@asseteducation.co.uk 

Sensory preferences, ARFID, and cautious eating

We understand that children often prefer familiar, predictable foods - often called a "beige diet" - for a wide range of sensory, developmental, or medical reasons. We are working with TasteEd and Public Health Suffolk to ensure that children can explore new textures and flavors in a safe, un-pressured way. Our goal is to balance their current needs with helping them gently build confidence around food at their own pace.

We no longer routinely offer a plain "safe" diet on our menus as a daily option, such as plain pasta or a plain jacket potato, however parents can request this for children with sensory needs.  This is in response to feedback from parents who were aware their child was choosing plain food every day at school, but were keen for them to be encouraged to eat a varied diet. We want to put you as parents in the driving seat, and offer support to help your child eat in the way that works for them.

If you would like us to offer your child plain pasta or a jacket potato if they might struggle with a menu item, simply email us at nourish@asseteducation.co.uk with your child's name and school, and we will mark them as "restricted diet" - they will then have the option for something they find "safe".