Free School Meals
We would like to encourage any parent who is eligible for benefits related Free School Meals to register even if your child does not take the meals.
If you are in receipt of qualifying benefits we will ask you to register for ‘Free School Meals Eligible by Benefit’. This registration will attract additional funding at school for your child called Pupil Premium. This can make a big difference to the school and our budgets and offer for your child.
School meals are free for all state school pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 of primary school. These are known as ‘universal infant free school meals’. (Booked through Parent Pay) However, if your family are living on a low income and claiming certain benefits, your child may be able to get a free lunch until at least 2025 (known as ‘benefit-related free school meals’). If your child qualifies for benefit-related free school meals, you should apply for this when they start school, not wait until after Year 2.
You can register your entitlement for Free School Meals if you have children who attend a school in Bath and North East Somerset and you are receiving one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit (if your annual net earned income is £7,400 or less, 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
- Child Tax Credit, without any Working Tax Credit, and an annual household income of £16,190 or less (as assessed by HMRC – Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs)
- Four-week run-on Working Tax Credit (paid for four weeks after you STOP qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
- Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Apply online at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
You can also email the team at freeschoolmeals@bathnes.gov.uk or call 01225 394317
