Free school meals
Around 1.8 million UK children are entitled to free school meals but more than 330,000 pupils don't get their entitlement. For some children, the social stigma or even teasing attached to 'being on free dinners' puts them off. Often parents don't realise they're entitled - or are discouraged by the likely bureaucracy.
Does it matter?
Yes! Children who eat well during the day concentrate better in lessons. Sitting down to a meal together is an important part of children's social education. Also, one child in four doesn't get a hot dinner in the evening.
Other reasons why free school dinners are important:
- 7% of schoolchildren don't eat breakfast
- Up to 10% of children are deterred from buying lunch at school by the cost (the average amount spent on a school meal is £1.46)
- Researchers in the US found students scored higher in tests when the nutritional content of school meals was improved
- 70% of UK parents say there is too little time to prepare meals and then enjoy eating them as a family so the school meal is the only opportunity many children have to enjoy eating as a social activity
- Weight-for-weight, UK pupils eat 4 times as much confectionery as green vegetables.
- In an average class of 30 children, 6 pupils will not eat any fruit in a week.
Who qualifies?
In England, 21% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.
The local education authority has a legal obligation to offer free school meals to children whose parents receive Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit (plus children of asylum seekers) so if you fit any of these criteria, your children qualify. However, as soon as you stop claiming the benefits, free school meals stop too.
In summary, free school meals are provided if a parent or guardian receives either:
- income support,
- jobseeker's allowance (income based)
- guarantee element of State Pension Credit
- child tax credit but are not entitled to working tax credit and your annual income as assessed by the Inland Revenue does not exceed £15,575.
If you are an asylum seeker, you are automatically entitled to free school meals for your children.
Apply by telephone!
Free school meals applications and renewals can now be completed over the phone by calling us on 0161-909 6508.
How to apply in person
If we are unable to confirm your entitlement when you ring, you can attend drop-in sessions at Salford Civic Centre's Unity House in Swinton. These sessions are held between 8:30am and 4:30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 10:00am to 4.30pm on Wednesdays, where staff from our advice team will be able to assist with your application for free school meals.
Alternatively, please ring us on 0161 909 6508, if you would like us to arrange an appointment at one of our local advice team venues, where your entitlement to free school meals can be verified while you wait.
Documents you will need to produce
If we are unable to confirm your entitlement if you apply by telephone, please be sure to bring proof that you are in receipt of income support or income-based job seeker's allowance. The proof needed for asylum seekers to receive free school meals for their children is either proof of receipt of DSS benefits, an IND letter or a N.A.S.S letter.
No application for free school meals can be completed unless the necessary proof of benefit has been seen.
Need more information?
If you think your child may be entitled to free school meals you can obtain further information from their school or by calling 0161-909 6508 to request further details.
Please remember, it is of benefit to yourself and your child's school to claim your free school meals.
Downloadable documents
If you are unable to view documents of these types, our downloads page provides links to viewing software.
This page was last updated on 16 April 2008
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