How much lunch money should I give to my child at secondary school?

From morning assembly to the playtime bell, primary school is remarkably structured. School lunches, for example, are pretty much fixed, and most kids more or less eat the same thing. That changes once children get to secondary school. There’s more choice, higher costs and more opportunities for kids to spend money.

Lunch money quick guides from NatWest Rooster Money

How much does a school lunch cost in Britain?

Prices vary, and they’re usually set by the school, but you can expect to pay around £2 to £3 for a full meal, and a bit less for a toasted sandwich or a panini.

How much lunch money do other parents give their children?

Some parents pay for the cost of lunch, while others give their children a bit extra. This extra money can cover breakfast at a breakfast club, a snack during break time, or something their child can grab on the way home from school.

Amounts can vary from just the cost of the daily meal (around £2 to £3), to closer to £5 a day for some children. So, expect to budget somewhere between £10 to £25 a week*.

How healthy are school meals?

Today’s school meals may well be healthier than the ones you enjoyed as a child. New school food standards mean British schools must offer high-quality meats and a range of fruit and vegetables with every meal.

Also schools are banned from offering sugary drinks, crisps, chocolates and sweets in the canteen or at vending machines around school.

This should give you the peace of mind that your children’s lunch money is going towards a nutritious meal. You can always check the school’s menu to see the meals provided and discuss choosing healthy options with your child.

What about packed lunches?

Plenty of school kids also take packed lunches, which might give you greater control over lunchtime spending and nutrition.

The NHS even publishes a guide to healthier lunch boxes with a range of quick and easy options to keep you covered. Tired of making those lunch boxes yourself? You could set this as a chore for your kids.

How do I pay for school meals?

Some schools have a thumbprint recognition system, linked to an account that parents set up. Other schools offer their pupils a dedicated card-payment system, which accepts normal debit cards such as the NatWest Rooster Money Card. This prepaid debit card can help parents to manage weekly lunch money budgets by setting spending limits and receiving notifications when their child buys something.

What is NatWest Rooster Money?

The NatWest Rooster Money prepaid debit card and app enables children to divide money into different pots based on spending and saving. You can give them a weekly allowance toward a lunch spending pot to make paying for their lunches easy. Or they may wish to save up to buy a game they’d like. They can even donate to a charitable cause.

The Rooster Card is a prepaid debit card that you can set spending limits on and top up the balance from your phone. You can also get real time notifications on spending and instantly freeze, which are very handy features for school and your child’s independence (and especially useful if your child runs out of lunch money or loses their card at school).

Other features of the app include the Star or Reward Chart can be used to encourage positive behaviours from their children. You can set your child’s currency to stars and attach a note to each one to explain what chore they completed to achieve it - like packing their school bag, unloading the dishwasher, or helping to walk the dog.

The Virtual Money Tracker is a free tool and allows parents to set pocket money allowances and also track their child’s spending habits. including how much they’re spending. You can also choose to give them a set amount of money per week or month or boost their allowance on an ad-hoc basis.

NatWest Rooster Money is very popular with our Mumsnet community.

LunaLoveFood recently shared: “We have a Rooster Card, which is linked to chores. DS8 almost 9 gets £5 per week and has been able to save up for roller skates and LEGO sets that he has wanted and it works really well for us.”

“My 6 and 8 year olds get £3 base a week”, Mumofsend, who uses Rooster Money, added. “[This] is split 50:50 into savings and spends. They can earn an extra 20p a day for helping me with a job each.”

“Another vote for the Rooster card here,” AvocadoSurprise added. “Lots of useful features on the app. I thought anyone could have one and you don't have to bank with them.”

How to get the Rooster Card

Visit the NatWest Rooster Money website to sign up and get started with a one month free card trial.

You can download the Rooster Money app from your App Store or Google Play. Card fees apply via auto-renewal once the free trial period has ended, £19.99/yr or £1.99/m. Card for ages 6-17. Parents/guardians must be 18+ and UK residents. Some card designs may incur a fee and are subject to availability. T&Cs apply, see website for details.

Setting up the account is simple and the card usually takes between 5 to 10 days to arrive. Once you've received the card, tap 'It's arrived' on the app and your child's account will be activated and ready to use.

The Rooster Card subscription is free to existing NatWest Group customers, who can also order up to three cards for free. If you’re a NatWest Group customer, you can get up to three Rooster Card subscriptions free for as long as you’re with the bank. To be eligible for the free Rooster Card subscription offer you must be over 18, a UK resident, registered for either Mobile Banking or Online Banking with kids aged between 6 and 17. Offer includes up to three cards. Other fees may apply. T&Cs apply, see website for details.

About NatWest

NatWest Group is one of the largest banking and financial services groups in the UK, guided by a purpose to champion potential and help their customers and families to thrive. Rooster Money is a great example of how they're arming families with the tools to discuss and educate children on finance and making positive steps with their money - all whilst offering full parental control.

Find out more at NatWest Rooster Money here

About the editor

Rebecca Roberts is a writer, editor, and content marketing expert hailing from Leeds. Here at Mumsnet, she brings parents content designed to make life easier. Beyond her role as an editor here at Mumsnet, Rebecca can be found balancing life as a working mum of two toddlers and when she’s not at her desk, you’ll likely find her at a local playgroup, in a nearby coffee shop, or walking the dog.

*(GoodTo, 2023)