Parents claiming some benefits can claim Free School Meals for their children (at any age) who attend a Staffordshire school and who would normally be at school at lunch time. School meals are a good way to ensure that your child eats well at lunchtime, and you can save yourself time and money.
Even if you don’t want your children to have the meals, claiming Free School Meals helps their school. The more eligible parents who claim Free School Meals, the more funding the school receives. If a child is in receipt of Free School Meals assistance can also be provided for music lessons, residential and educational trips.
Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) for reception, year 1 and 2 children
From September 2014, if you have an infant age child (those in reception, year 1 or year 2) they receive free school meals even if you don’t meet the entitlement criteria previously applied for free school meals, and without completing an application for them – for more information contact your school.
However, for every pupil registered with the Council as eligible under the entitlement criteria for Free School Meals, the school will receive additional funding called Pupil Premium – this funding is used to help raise achievement levels and is of real benefit to the children and the school. Each school will decide how to spend the funding and are required to publish details of what they have spent it on and the impact it has had. So that schools (and pupils) can continue to benefit from this extra funding it is important that parents who do meet the entitlement criteria for Free School Meals continue to register their claim with the Council.
Click HERE to access further information and find out if you are eligible to claim Free School Meals.