The Restaurant
at John Taylor Free School
Meal Times in the JTFS Restaurant
Our school restaurant provides a welcoming space where food and refreshments are available throughout the day.
In partnership with MiQuill Catering, a range of fresh, balanced meals is available, with options that are varied, appealing and good value. Breakfast, breaktime and lunchtime service ensure students can access food across the school day.
To help maintain a clean and well‑organised environment, food should be eaten in the restaurant area, including for those bringing a packed lunch.
Current Menus
Cashless Catering
The restaurant operates a cashless system using My Child at School (MCAS), which is used to manage payments and view account information. A thumb scan allows quick and secure access to each account when purchasing food and drink.
Accounts should be kept in credit to help ensure a smooth experience at break and lunchtime. As payments are not applied instantly, we recommend topping up before 8:00am each day.
The MCAS app also allows families to view purchases and monitor daily spending. Spending limits can be adjusted by contacting the school.
More information about using MCAS can be found on the Parent App page.
Daily Spending
The standard daily spending limit in the restaurant is £6.00. Once this limit is reached, further purchases cannot be made that day. Limits can be increased or reduced, including setting different limits for breakfast, break and lunchtime. To request this, please contact [email protected].
If an account goes into a small deficit, a temporary token may be provided to allow a purchase to be made. This is a short-term measure, and repeated deficits may result in tokens no longer being issued.
Filtered water refill points are available in the restaurant. Students should bring a refillable bottle, as cups are not provided on site.
Free School Meals
Parents and carers who think they may be eligible can apply for Free School Meals online through Staffordshire County Council.
If your application is successful, please let us know by forwarding the confirmation to the school so we can make the necessary arrangements for your child.
Students receiving Free School Meals will have a daily allowance added to their account, which is enough to purchase the two‑course hot meal deal at lunchtime. Water is available free of charge, and students are encouraged to bring a refillable bottle each day.
If students choose to buy additional items, such as food at breakfast or breaktime, families may wish to add extra funds to the account, as these purchases will be taken from the daily allowance.
Timings of the Day
Food is available before school, during break and at lunchtime. For full details of the school day, including exact timings, please see the Key Dates page.