With summer slowly drawing to and end, parents across the UK have been preparing for their children to head back to school this month. The new academic year can bring a lot of challenges, especially the expense of buying new school uniform, supplies and sorting out lunches.
Between rising inflation rates and with the energy bill price cap set to skyrocket in the autumn, the next few months will be a major source of anxiety for many. Charities have warned that the new price cap - meaning people could be hit with an average yearly bill of £3,549 - could push 8.9 million UK households into poverty this October.
Meanwhile, new analysis from Child Poverty Action Group shows there are 100,000 children in the North West who are living in poverty but don’t qualify for free school meals 'because the eligibility criteria is so restrictive.' The charity is calling for an urgent extension of free school meals to all families in receipt of Universal Credit or equivalent benefits, and for England to move towards universal provision for all children, as is the case in Scotland and Wales.
Read more: 'Families are being forced to choose between what to feed their kids and paying for school uniforms'
So, how do households know whether or not their child is eligible for free school meals? All pupils in reception, year one and year two in state-funded schools in England are eligible for 'Universal Infant Free School Meals', irrespective of the income of their parents.
However each school is responsible for providing this and they may ask you to fill in an application form to show that you require a meal for your child or children. According to the government, if any of the following apply to your household, your child may be able to apply for free school meals:
- income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- 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 get)
- Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.
Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:
- younger than the compulsory age for starting school
- in full-time education
How to apply for free school meals - borough by borough
Bolton
You can apply for free school meals via the Bolton Council website here.
If your child attends any of the sixth forms below, they can get income related free school meals:
- Kearsley Academy
- Turton
- Thornleigh
- Canon Slade
- Firwood and Rumworth
- Rivington and Blackrod
- Bolton St Catherine's Academy
If the sixth form is not listed above you will need to contact them to get your free school meals, according to Bolton Council.
Bury
If you live in Bury Council's area and your child attends a school either in or outside the borough, or if you live in Manchester Council's area and your child attends a school in Bury, you can apply for free school meals via the council's website here.
Manchester
To apply for free school meals, you can submit a form via Manchester City Council's website here.
The council states it can only provide free school meals if your child's school is in Manchester. Children who are eligible for free school meals can get them until they finish school or if they are in school on 31 March 2023, until they finish primary or secondary school – whichever is sooner.
Oldham
If you live outside the borough (except Manchester) and your child goes to an Oldham school, you will need to apply through your local council in the area where you live, according to Oldham Council.
If you are resident in Manchester but your child attends an Oldham school, you can apply for free school meals here.
Rochdale
Rochdale Borough Council's website states: "You and your child must both live in the borough of Rochdale or the city of Manchester. If you're claiming from an address in the city of Manchester, your child must attend a school in the borough of Rochdale."
You can apply for free school meals here. If you and your child live in any other borough regardless of where they go to school, you should contact your local council to apply instead.
Salford
If your child attends one of the following schools, Salford City Council advises contacting the school directly if you have a free school meal enquiry, or want to make a new application for a free school meals:
- Barton Moss Primary School
- Buile Hill Academy
- Ellesmere Park High School
- Marlborough Road Academy
- Moorside High School
- St Augustine's CE Primary School
If you live outside the city of Salford but your child goes to a Salford school, you are an asylum seeker, or you have no recourse to public funds then you can apply via the council's website here.
Stockport
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council's website states: "If your child attends a school in Stockport you must make your claim for free school meals with us. If you live in Stockport and your child attends a school outside of Stockport, your claim should be made with the authority who educates your child".
You can apply for free school meals via the council's website here.
Tameside
The Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council website states: "Free School Meals can be claimed by Parents or Guardians of pupils who are on a low income. All claims will be processed by your child’s school."
Trafford
If your child qualifies for free school meals and and their school is in Trafford, you can apply online through the council's website.
Wigan
Apply for free school meals via Wigan Council's website here. It states that when you apply, you will get an instant decision on your claim and the will contact the school to confirm your child’s eligibility.
For all boroughs, you will not need to re-apply for free school meals each year unless your circumstances change, for example, you move house.
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