Free School Meals

Your child will get a free school meal if you receive a qualifying benefit, and your child is:

  • at school
  • studying in further education
  • at a sixth form college
Qualifying benefits to receive free school meals

The qualifying benefits to receive free school meals for children in Year 3 and over are:

  • 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)
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and you have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
  • Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
How to apply for free school meals

If you think you meet the free school meals eligibility criteria, please call 0300 300 8306. When you call to apply for free school meals, please have the following information ready:

  • National Insurance numbers and dates of birth for you and your partner
  • dates of birth for your children
  • if you receive support from the National Asylum Support Service, your NASS number
Students in further education and sixth form

If your child is aged 16-18 and attends a further education or sixth form college, please contact the college for information about free school meals.

If your child attends a school sixth form, please call 0300 300 8306 to apply.

Holiday activities and food programme (HAF)

The holiday activities and food (HAF) programme provides fun, free activities for children and young people aged five and upwards during the easter, summer and Christmas school holidays. The programme is for children eligible for benefit related free school meals, which is a requirement from the Department for Education which funds the programme.

There's always a range of activities on offer, including sports and games sessions, craft and creative activities and fun days out. Healthy snacks and lunch are also provided to all children and young people attending face-to-face activities.

Our sessions are inclusive, so are suitable for children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND).

You will need to be in receipt of a Holiday Activities Voucher to book.  This will be supplied by your children's school.

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