Wiltshire families urged to check for free school meal eligibility
The scheme, launched in 2014, saves families more than £350 per year
Families in Wiltshire are being urged to check if their children are eligible for free school meals from year three and above.
Reception, year one and year two pupils are able to access healthy lunchtime meals at school, something that's been in place since September 2014, and parents are being encouraged to check for continued eligibility.
The scheme allows families to save more than £350 per year.
To benefit from the initiative, parents need to tell their school they'd like their child to continue having free school meals. Families receiving a qualifying benefit will allow the school to receive a pupil premium of £1,385 per pupil, which is provided to schools by the Government to help children from lower income families to achieve.
Pupils in year three and above don't automatically receive free school meals, but they can be awarded if the family receives one of the following benefits:
• Income support
• Job seeker's allowance (income-based)
• Employment and support allowance (income-related)
• support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child tax credit - providing they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and your family's annual income (as assessed by HMRC) is not more than £16,190 (as of 6 April 2012)
• Working tax credit 'run-on' - the payment you may receive for a further four weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit
• Universal credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods).
A family on one of those benefits will mean the child's school will receive the pupil premium.
If a family that receives these benefits would still like their school to benefit from the extra funding provided but does not want their child to have free school meals, they must still register for free school meals. For every child registered the school receives £985 for secondary-aged pupils or £1,385 for primary-aged pupils.
Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “Free school meals ensure that all children can benefit from a healthy meal at lunchtime, and also provides schools with additional funding to support children from lower income families to achieve their full potential.
“Free school meals are available for all children from reception until year two, and I would encourage all families to check if they are eligible to continue receiving free school meals from year three as this can represent a saving of more than £350 per year. If children are eligible to continue to receive free school meals, their school will also continue to receive the premium of either £985 or £1,385 extra per eligible pupil, which really helps schools to ensure all children have the very best start in life.”
Free school meal applications for all primary schools are managed by Wiltshire Council. However, a small number of secondary schools manage their own applications and will advise parents on their process. These schools include:
• Bishop Wordsorth's Grammar School
• Salisbury 6th Form College
• South Wilts Grammar School for Girls