School meals are available to all children attending school either free of charge or on payment. Meals in primary schools are a traditional two course meal. Those in secondary schools are provided on a cafeteria basis with a wide choice of food offered.
Free school meals are available to pupils if their parents are in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance or Child Tax Credit, but not entitled to Working Tax Credit, whose annual income is no more than the level set by the Secretary of State. It is not the practice of the Authority to back date free school meal claims, however, free school meals will continue until the first pay day when claimants return to work and state benefits cease in order to compensate for any delay at the start of the claim.
Claims for free school meals are reviewed at intervals. Parents must ensure that these review forms are completed by the due date otherwise free school meals will cease and parents will have to meet the cost of school meals.
Further information regarding eligibility for free school meals can be obtained from the Education Benefits Team at Hewson House (tel 01724 297217).