If your child may be eligible for Free School Meals, we strongly encourage families to apply.

Free School Meals can help reduce family costs and ensure children have access to a healthy meal during the school day. Registering may also enable the school to receive additional government funding that can be used to enhance educational provision, resources and wider support for pupils.

Is My Child Eligible?

Your child may be eligible for Free School Meals if you receive certain benefits or meet criteria set by the government, including:

• 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 Guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and your income meets the current threshold)
• Working Tax Credit run-on
• Universal Credit (subject to current earnings thresholds)

Your child may also be eligible in some circumstances if your family has no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to current guidance and income thresholds. This can include some families with:

• Zambrano or Chen status
• British National (Overseas) passport holders
• spousal, work or student visas
• no immigration status
• right to remain under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
• support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 with NRPF restrictions
• certain failed asylum seeker support arrangements under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Eligibility criteria can change, so we recommend checking the latest guidance through your local authority or contacting the school for support.

Does My Child Have to Take the Meal?

No. If your child is eligible, they do not have to take a school meal every day. You may still choose for them to bring a packed lunch. However, we encourage families to register if eligible, as this can still unlock additional funding and support for your child and the school.

How Free School Meals Help at St John’s

Additional funding linked to eligibility can help us provide:

• high-quality educational resources and provision
• targeted academic support and interventions
• wellbeing and pastoral support
• confidence and self-esteem building opportunities
• enrichment activities and wider school experiences

Need Help or Want to Apply?

If you would like support checking eligibility or making an application, please contact the school office. We are always happy to help families in a sensitive and confidential way.