Is Your Child Entitled to Free School Meals?

When your child begins full-time education the issue of what they will do at lunchtime is one that has to be looked at and considered. It is not always possible for a child to either return home for lunch or to be provided with a lunch of their own – either by giving them money or making them a packed lunch – so therefore one must consider free school meals as an option.

Availability of Free School Meals

Free school meals are provided in the United Kingdom where the local education authorities see fit. Although it is law that all children should be given the option of a free school meal, should their circumstances permit, not all local education authorities in conjunction with their respective councils can afford such a provision. Free school meals now only apply in England and Wales – again where provisions exist – but in Scotland this is something that is only allowed at the discretion of individual education departments.

Who is Eligible?

The first things to remember is that your local education authority is responsible by law to provide your child with free school meals should you fall into any of the categories – or criteria- that are required for them to do so. It is a given that any student in full time education is entitled to free school meals.

Those who are most eligible for free school meals are the following:

• Children whose parents receive Family Income Support
• The children of parents receiving Income Based Job-Seekers Allowance
• Any student whose parents receive Child Tax Credit but do not recieve Working Tax Credit and whose annual family income is less than £16,040 as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs (2009 - these values are changed anually).
• Those children who are supported by Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999
• Children who are being cared for by guardians who receive Pension Credit (under the ‘Guarantee Credit Element’).

Nursery School children are only eligible for free school meals if they are being taught before and after the lunch break. Also students within sixth form education may be eligible given the relevant criteria but students undertaking further education are not eligible and therefore the provision of a lunch is at the discretion of the student and/or parent.

Your local council or education authority will be able to provide you with further information on any special circumstances that they may perceive as being reasonable grounds for receiving free school meals.

Applying for Free School Meals

When you first apply for a place at a particular school for your child they will ask you – if the provision to do so is there – if your child wishes to take advantage of the free school meals system. If this is the case you will be required to fill out an application form or renewal of free school meals application form and also provide proof of your child’s eligibility. With this form you will be asked to provide the school with a copy of your Pension Guarantee Credit notice, proof of Income Based Job Seekers Allowance of Child Tax Credit.

It is worth noting at this stage that if you do not – or cannot – provide the school with the relevant information, which they will forward on to the local education authority, your child will not be allowed to take free school meals and as a result you as the guardian or parent may incur a daily charge for a meal if your child wishes to have one in school.