FREE SCHOOL MEALS
FREE SCHOOL MEAL (FSM) ELIGIBILITY
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you receive 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 and 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).
All children upto (and including) Year 2 receive an automatic free school meal under the Government's Universal Free School Meal Programme, but please note if you register your eligibility with us your child will receive additional benefits, such as subsidised school trips.
If you believe you are entitled to free school meals please apply here Online FSM Application (cloudforedu.org.uk) or visit the school office and request a paper copy.
FSM for families with No Recourse to Public Funds
The Department for Education has recently changed who is eligible for Free School Meals to include children from households with No Recourse to Public Funds (subject to income thresholds). Even if your child was not previously eligible, you may now be entitled to support so please read below.
Are you eligible for Free School Meals? The following children are now eligible for support:
- Children from families with No Recourse to Public Funds with a right to remain in the UK on the grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
- Children from families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children’s Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction
- Children of a subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Families holding a BN(O) passport
- Spousal visa holders, work visa holders, student visa holders
- Children of Zambrano and Chen carers
- Those with no immigration status / those who are undocumented
If you are legally able to work, your maximum annual household income to qualify should be:
- £22,700 for families outside of London with 1 child
- £26,300 for families outside of London with 2 or more children
- £31,200 for families within London with 1 child
- £34,800 for families within London with 2 or more children
To start claiming Free School Meals for your child/children, please fill in the attached form and return it to the school office. Please give proof of your immigration status and income. For further information go to Free school meals | NRPF (nrpfnetwork.org.uk)