Free School Meals - Could you be eligible to apply?

Free School Meals - Could you be eligible to apply? 

There are two types of Free School meals available to children in our school.

These are defined below and the application for each will be outlined.

1. Universal Free School Meal Entitlement

This is available to all children in FS2 (Reception), Year 1 and Year 2. This funding comes direct from central government and states that all children in these year groups, in state-funded schools, will be offered a free lunch, regardless of any other criteria.

There is no need to apply for the Universal Free School Meal Entitlement as it is based entirely on age, however even though your child may be in FS2 (Reception), Year 1 and Year 2, you may meet the criteria to apply for Means-Tested Free School Meals (as described below) which will also provide additional school funding to spend on your child’s education and contribute towards the cost of additional activities, to fund additional support in your child’s classroom etc. For details, please see below.

2. Means-Tested Free School Meals

There is no maximum or minimum age limit linked to this type of Free School Meal. Registering for Means-Tested Free School Meals could save you £2.65 per day, per child, which is £13.25 per week per child, totaling up to £516.75 per year.

• Universal Credit - Your annual net earned income must be no more that £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to 3 of your most recent assessment periods.
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and your annual income is below £16,190 (as worked out by HM Revenue & Customs)
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Parents receiving Working Tax Credit for four weeks after their employment finishes are entitled to free school meals during that period. This also applies to parents who start working less than 16 hours per week

In addition to the above, some children who have been adopted, are under a Special Guardianship Order, or a Child Arrangements Order may also meet the criteria.

Registering for Free School Meals could also raise an extra £1,385 in Pupil Premium Funding for us as a school, to spend on your child’s education to contribute towards the cost of additional activities, to fund additional support in classrooms etc.

This funding is available from central government for every child whose parent is receiving one of the benefits listed above.

You can find out if you qualify for Free School Meals by visiting the DMBC website:

https://www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/schools/free-school-meals

If your child has left Local Authority care through adoption, Special Guardianship Order or a Child Arrangements Order, your child should be eligible for additional funding.

Please contact the school office if you have any questions – all information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Yours sincerely

Mrs R Train

Headteacher