Free School Meals

If you register for free school meals then your child will get a free meal every day they are here and the school will get extra Pupil Premium funding to put towards the cost of educating your child.

The free school meal entitlement is £2.40. It is credited to the student’s lunch account on a daily basis. This amount can only be spent on that day at break or lunch time.  (NB. Any unspent allowance will not be transferred to the following day). Additional money can be added to the student’s account by the method mentioned above by parents/carers.

Here are just a few things we could do with the money:  

• Support the recruitment, retention and training of our teachers

• Subsidise additional out of hours activities 

• Run more trips

• Improve our facilities

• Buy more teaching equipment

Please register as soon as possible to make sure your child doesn’t miss out.

You may be entitled to free school meals for your child(ren) if you receive one of the following benefits:

1. Income Support

2. Income Based Job Seekers Allowance

3. Child Tax Credit Only (with income up to £16,190) with no element of Working Tax Credit

4. National Asylum Seekers Support

5. Guarantee Element of the State Pension Credit

6. Employment and Support Allowance

7. Universal Credit (Income Related)

How I register? 

1. First, check if you qualify – it is not just if you are unemployed, so please look at the list above

2. Registering is really quick and easy, to find out more about Pupil Premium and free school meals click this link: https://www.essex.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/free-school-meals

3. If you are eligible, Essex County Council will let you know. If you aren’t, they will let you know why and how you can appeal.

4. If you want your child to have a free, healthy meal at lunchtime that’s great – they will get the free meal (saving you more than £350 a year) and the school gets extra funding. If you don’t want your child to have the school meals they can continue as normal. As long as you are registered, the school still gets extra funding

Registering for Free School Meals will not affect any other benefits you are claiming.