Free School Meals

Children are at the heart of everything we do and Christ is the light that guides us.

Infant School Meals from September 2014

From September 2014, there will be a statutory requirement for schools in England to provide school meals to all pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.  We are referring to these as the Universal Infant Free School Meals as they are different to free school meals.

Whilst all pupils in these year groups will be provided with a daily infant school meal, it is important that, if you think you are eligible to receive a free school meal, you continue to apply.

This is especially important as the extra funding we receive, called Pupil Premium, is dictated by the number of Free School Meal registrations we have!  This money is important to us to protect the smaller classes, extra teachers and interventions we give your children which mean they progress quicker in our school!

Existing entitlements to free school meals for disadvantaged pupils in nursery classes and at Key Stages 2-4 will continue as they do now, based on the existing free school meals eligibility criteria as set out in the information from Cheshire West and Chester.

Free school meals

Do you qualify?

You may be able to claim free school meals if you are receiving one of the benefits listed below:

• Income Support

• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and have an annual income that does not exceed £16,190

• The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Do you receive Working Tax credit?

If you or a partner receive Working Tax Credit, regardless of income you will not qualify for free school meals.

How does it work?

Checking whether you qualify and registering is really quick and easy – you can apply online here or contact the school office and we can help you with your application.

If you qualify your child will get a free, healthy meal at lunchtime (saving you more than £350 a year) and the school gets extra money towards resources and equipment to help your child and others.

If you don’t want your child to have a free school meal they can continue as normal – as long as you qualify, and are registered, the school still gets the extra money.