How to Register for Free School meals and Holiday Activities and Food Programme.
Is your child eligible for free school meals? All children in Year R to 2 are eligible to Universal free school meals however, you may also be eligible for benefit-related free school meals up until your child leaves in year 6, if you receive any of the following benefits:
- 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 benefit-related free school meals if you get any of the above benefits and your child is both:
- younger than the compulsory age for starting school
- in full-time education
If you are eligible for benefit-related free school meal, or if you are unsure, please complete the Free School Meals Form on the KCC website. The application is processed instantly and you will be notified immediately if you are/ are not eligible.
If your child is eligible for free school meals, they’ll remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they’re in on 31 March 2025.
For the school, this eligibility for free school meals also gives us access to additional funding of £1320 per year per child, which we use to give children eligible for free meals additional adult support and intervention tuition within school.
Benefits of receiving free school meals
In Kent, 21% of children receive free school meals. If you are eligible and register your child will get:
- a choice of delicious, healthy hot meals every school day at no cost - this is worth £470 a year per child and recognised to improve behaviour and learning
- meals to cater for cultural, dietary, and religious requirements
- the chance to develop social skills by sitting with friends for a school meal
- a £10 food voucher per eligible child each week during the school holidays.
The school will receive additional funding to cover the catering cost and school funding grants, such as the Pupil Premium, based on their take up of free school meals.
Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF)
The HAF Programme offers families of children aged 4 to 16, who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals, opportunities to access a range of free activities in the Easter, summer, and Christmas holidays.
Each programme will provide a range of exciting activities, games and new experiences for children, along with a healthy main meal.
To book a HAF programme visit The Education People website.
If you think you may be eligible, you can apply via this link:
https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals
Once you apply you will get an instant decision, which also automatically informs the school.
If you need any assistance or have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the school office or email office@stclementscep.co.uk