Free School Meals

Who can apply for free school meals?

Free School Meals can only be awarded if you or your partner are claiming either;

• Universal Credit provided they have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400 (616.67 per month)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not also entitled to Working Tax  Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by HMRC
• Working Tax Credit run-on-paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax

Apply Online

What is pupil premium?

Pupil premium is extra money paid direct to schools for each child who is eligible for free school meals. It is used to support your child's education. Please apply for free schools meals if you are eligible so your school gets this money.

Who qualifies for universal infant free school meals?

From September 2014 the government introduced universal infant free school meals for all pupils in Reception, Years 1 and 2. In order for us to recognise who is eligible for universal meals and who qualifies for free school meals for funding purposes we would encourage all parents to register by completing an application form even if the child does not wish to receive a meal.

How do I apply for free school meals and / or universal free school meals?

If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, an application form can be obtained from the school office.

If your child is in Year 3 or above, you can complete an online Free School Meals Application Form - see 'Apply Online' link above.

What happens after I have completed my application?

• your eligibility for free School meals and / or universal free school meals will be checked 
• if you qualify for a free school meal under the benefit criteria, a letter will be sent to you confirming your fee school meal award
• parents and the children's school will also be informed.
• contact the school office to find out how your child's lunch will be served
• free school meals cannot be granted to any child until WCC have received a correctly completed form
• entitlement to free school meals cannot be backdated
• school will know if your child qualifies for a universal infants free school meal

What happens if my circumstances change?

Your child/ren will continue to receive free school meals until the end of the Universal Credit rollout period currently scheduled to end in March 2022.

This will apply even if your earnings rise above the new threshold or if you stop being entitled to Universal Credit.

Once Universal Credit is fully rolled out, your child will keep their free school meal until the end of their current phase of education for example primary or secondary school.

What do I do to maintain my claim for free school meals?

Your claim for free school meals will be reviewed on a regular basis. WCC use an online free school meals eligibility checking system provided by the Department for Education to confirm your entitlement.

Please note the online checking system only confirms or denies your eligibility to claim free school meals: it does not give WCC any other information. If WCC cannot confirm your entitlement through this process they will contact you to ask you to provide up-to-date evidence of the benefit you receive.

Will I need to re-apply if my child changes school?

Free meal entitlement will automatically follow your child to the next stage of their education (i.e., in September) and the new school will be advised of this.

The free school meals team at WCC will need to be advised if your child transfers to another school at any other time or for any other reason.