Entitled to free schoo meals

elf06

Hi just a quick question about fee school meals. DS is due to start school this year and I will be applying for free school meals which I am fairly certain I will be entitled to. My question is this......if he is awarded this benefit does he have to have the meals everyday?? I was hoping to do some packed lunches but on days he wants to have a hot meal/in winter then he could have school dinner. I dont mean send him in with a packed lunch then go for hot instead - we get a menu in advance so I will be able to decide at the start of the week which days he'll have packed lunch/hot meal.
Or is this something that is different in different council areas??

Bloomin_Freezing2

MY DD had free school meals for a few months last year when hubby was made redundant, we were able to pick and choose, obviously there may be some days when they won't like what's on offer.

mirrorimage0

no you just pick and choose when you want it, if you are entitled please apply for it because what youdont use will benefit the schools with the money and they can use it towards other stuff for the school

elf06

Thanks that is what i was wondering. Also was wondering about whether you can claim for help with the costs of out of school clubs............I dont really mean clubs but we have an organisation that looks after children for a couple of hours in the evening until parents finish work and also during the holidays for working parents...............??

elf06

mirrorimage0 wrote: »

no you just pick and choose when you want it, if you are entitled please apply for it because what youdont use will benefit the schools with the money and they can use it towards other stuff for the school

Ah excellent - I will deff be applying just not sure yet what DS will want to do but at least the option will be there

Becles

Our primary school won't let you pick and choose on a weekly basis. Ingredients and stuff have to be ordered in, and it's too much hassle for the catering staff if people keep switching between meals and packed lunch frequently, and the secretary who has to keep track of who is paying for what.

You have to pick the days you want hot meals at the start of each half term and stick with your decision for the rest of the half term to make it easier for the staff to plan.

elf06

Becles wrote: »

Our primary school won't let you pick and choose on a weekly basis. Ingredients and stuff have to be ordered in, and it's too much hassle for the catering staff if people keep switching between meals and packed lunch frequently, and the secretary who has to keep track of who is paying for what.

You have to pick the days you want hot meals at the start of each half term and stick with your decision for the rest of the half term to make it easier for the staff to plan.

Ah ok I see I guess that makes some sort of sense........will maybe check when I go up to register him

Spendless

It will depend on the school as to what they let you do. Some in my area only allow kids to change what they do each half term. At mine they allow them to change weekly, my dd frequently does a week of school meals, followed by a week of packed lunches. Also some schools, offer sandwiches and a salad bar at lunchtime as an alternative to a hot meal.

Re- the cost of after school clubs. You are aware that free school dinners are usually awarded because the parent(s) earn under £x and are not in receipt of working tax credit (so usually working 15 hours or less a week)? Whereas with help with childcare costs via the tax credit system you'd need to be working 16 hours or more.

Bloomin_Freezing2

In our school if you get free school meals you may be entitled to free clubs too.

Not sure if it varies between councils but if you are in receipt of working tax credits here you do not qualify for free school meals as they say the dinner money should be taken from the Working tax credit.

elf06

Spendless wrote: »

Re- the cost of after school clubs. You are aware that free school dinners are usually awarded because the parent(s) earn under £x and are not in receipt of working tax credit (so usually working 15 hours or less a week)? Whereas with help with childcare costs via the tax credit system you'd need to be working 16 hours or more.

Well at the moment i work over 16 hours a week (only just) but the form for the school clothing allowance AND free school meals with our council states that you can be in receipt of child tax credit and working tax credit so long as your income is bellow a certain amount. Mine is just under at the moment but my hours will be dropping from a week on Monday to bang on 16 hours. I have read and re-read the form over and over again as I thought the same as yourself but it deff says you can be in receipt of both and still claim.............

I'd rather not post the form but would be happy to PM it to anyone willing to check my understanding for me??

Spendless

elf06 wrote: »

Well at the moment i work over 16 hours a week (only just) but the form for the school clothing allowance AND free school meals with our council states that you can be in receipt of child tax credit and working tax credit so long as your income is bellow a certain amount. Mine is just under at the moment but my hours will be dropping from a week on Monday to bang on 16 hours. I have read and re-read the form over and over again as I thought the same as yourself but it deff says you can be in receipt of both and still claim.............

I'd rather not post the form but would be happy to PM it to anyone willing to check my understanding for me??

I'd post the form off if that is what is says it may be be that your area is piloting different criteria for eligibility to free school dinners. Alternatively if you want to double check before posting, you could either ring your local council or ask at the school