FREE SCHOOL MEALS
Universal Infant Free School Meals
All children in Foundation Stage 2 and Key Stage 1 (reception and years 1 & 2) are entitled to receive a universal infant free school meal, this is different from Free School Meals in that it is awarded to all children regardless of a qualifying criteria.
Although all children in this stage of school receive a free school meal, some of these children will also be entitled to pupil premium funding/free school meals. This will allow the school to access additional funding to support the learning and development of all children and allow additional benefits for the individual child throughout their school journey such as a reduced fee for individual music lessons. If you feel your family is eligible then please complete the application via the link below.
Free Schools Meals/Pupil Premium Eligibility
Your child will qualify for free school meals if they're in full-time education and you receive one of the following benefits:
Your child won’t qualify for free school meals if you're receiving working tax credits and disabled working tax credits, except for the four-week run-on paid after you've stopped qualifying for working tax credits.
Changes to free school meal entitlement - Universal Credit rollout
From April 2018 the criteria used to determine which pupils are eligible for free school meals was updated to reflect the introduction of Universal Credit and the phasing out of other income-based benefits.
Transitional protection as part of Universal Credit rollout.
To ensure families are not disadvantaged during the rollout, protection arrangements have been put in place.
This means that:
Free School Meals Entitlement
For any family that wishes to apply for free school meals please complete the application form accessed via the link below:
BMBC –Free School Meals
All children in Foundation Stage 2 and Key Stage 1 (reception and years 1 & 2) are entitled to receive a universal infant free school meal, this is different from Free School Meals in that it is awarded to all children regardless of a qualifying criteria.
Although all children in this stage of school receive a free school meal, some of these children will also be entitled to pupil premium funding/free school meals. This will allow the school to access additional funding to support the learning and development of all children and allow additional benefits for the individual child throughout their school journey such as a reduced fee for individual music lessons. If you feel your family is eligible then please complete the application via the link below.
Free Schools Meals/Pupil Premium Eligibility
Your child will qualify for free school meals if they're in full-time education and you receive one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- guarantee element of state pension credit
- child tax credit with no working tax credit and have an income as assessed by the Inland Revenue that does not exceed £16,190 (subject to change annually)
- support under Part 1V of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- 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 receive)
Your child won’t qualify for free school meals if you're receiving working tax credits and disabled working tax credits, except for the four-week run-on paid after you've stopped qualifying for working tax credits.
Changes to free school meal entitlement - Universal Credit rollout
From April 2018 the criteria used to determine which pupils are eligible for free school meals was updated to reflect the introduction of Universal Credit and the phasing out of other income-based benefits.
Transitional protection as part of Universal Credit rollout.
To ensure families are not disadvantaged during the rollout, protection arrangements have been put in place.
This means that:
- Any child eligible for free school meals on 31 March 2018 will retain their eligibility until the end of the rollout, March 2022, regardless of whether their circumstances change.
- Any child who becomes eligible during the rollout of Universal Credit (from 1 April 2018 to March 2022) will retain their eligibility until the end of the rollout, March 2022, regardless of whether their circumstances change.
- Once the rollout of Universal Credit is complete, no child will lose their entitlement and will continue to be transitionally protected until the end of their current phase of education.
- Transitional protection applies to all children whether eligible through legacy benefits or Universal Credit.
Free School Meals Entitlement
For any family that wishes to apply for free school meals please complete the application form accessed via the link below:
BMBC –Free School Meals
