Free School Meals
How to apply for free school meals
Are you interested in your child eating freshly cooked hot meals? Did you know your child is entitled to free school meal in reception, year 1 and year 2? Are you aware you may qualify for free school meals for the duration of your child's schooling?
Check out the information and support below.
Who qualifies for free school meals?
Your child might be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit. You must also have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 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).
Free school meals during Universal Credit roll-out
Since 1 April 2018, all existing free school meals claimants have continued to receive free school meals whilst Universal Credit is rolled out. This applies even if their earnings rise above the threshold during that time.
In addition, any pupil gaining eligibility for free school meals after 1 April 2018 will be protected against losing free school meals until March 2025.
This means between now and 31st March 2025, you do not need to contact us to cancel free school meals, even if you feel your child is no longer eligible.
After March 2025, any existing claimants that no longer meet the eligibility criteria at that point (because they are earning above the threshold or are no longer a recipient of Universal Credit) will continue to receive free school meals until the end of their current phase of education (i.e. primary or secondary).
Pupil Premium Grant
If you are eligible for free school meals, your child’s school can access The Pupil Premium Grant. This grant must be spent by your child’s school to help eligible pupils reach their full potential, both academically and socially. The school decides how best to spend this.
If you are eligible for free school meals this is what you will receive at Kingsleigh Primary
- Free hot meals until the end of year 6
- Free milk from age 5 onwards
- £25 uniform grant voucher (can be spent at CJI clothing shop)
- Year 6 reduced residential costs
- The school will also receive additional pupil premium funding
How to apply for free school meals