Entitled to free schoo meals

elf06

Sorry I might not have explained myself very well. I intend sending the form off even if not certain about entitlement - if you dont try you dont get!! I just meant I didnt want to post it on here................
I'm not sure if the school will know, surely thats the councils department. I think I will just be trying it anyways as I think I should be entitled. Will check with the school re the school meals/pack lunch issue as it seems to be different in different areas..........still curious about the holiday clubs though. The direct gov website suggests you can get help with these types of things but there seems to be no guidlines

chocdonuty

In our local area they have a scheme where the local authority give certain pupils a set amount each year which the parents can then use for after school clubs and sports activities in or out of school.
Each activity has to be authorised by the school and they then pay that money directly to the childcare provider.
It's a great scheme and maybe other areas may have this too.

elf06

chocdonuty wrote: »

In our local area they have a scheme where the local authority give certain pupils a set amount each year which the parents can then use for after school clubs and sports activities in or out of school.
Each activity has to be authorised by the school and they then pay that money directly to the childcare provider.
It's a great scheme and maybe other areas may have this too.

Does sound like a good scheme - how do they decide which children get the funding?

Spendless

elf06 wrote: »

Sorry I might not have explained myself very well. I intend sending the form off even if not certain about entitlement - if you dont try you dont get!! I just meant I didnt want to post it on here................
I'm not sure if the school will know, surely thats the councils department. I think I will just be trying it anyways as I think I should be entitled. Will check with the school re the school meals/pack lunch issue as it seems to be different in different areas..........still curious about the holiday clubs though. The direct gov website suggests you can get help with these types of things but there seems to be no guidlines

The school (office) frequently do know the 'rules' as as someone else pointed out, they get funding which benefits the school. No end of times I've seen on my kids school newsletters 'are you entitled to free school dinners'. Having said that some clerical staff are loads better than others about knowing/explaining.

If you are talking about ofsted registered childcare which I think you are, then you make your claim thru the tax credit system. If you talking about when kids stay behind an hour or so to do gym/dancing/art club then sorry I don't know if anything is available to help with these costs.

BTW- there is sometimes a meal planner for schools on the council's website. Ours has a 3 week rota and a different menu in summer and winter.

HTH

building_with_lego

elf06 wrote: »

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??

Definitely ask at school; ours offers packed lunches as well as hot meals, so those eligible for free meals can eat for free every day, even if they don't like the hot menu :T.

We also get to choose on a weekly basis which days they'll have school dinners and pay in advance on a Monday. There's a three week menu (on the council website) so we've got quite a lot of flexibility here. Oh, and school likes us to go in and eat with the children from time to time! Useful too if you've a younger one who'll be starting school soon as it gets them used to eating out

Mollycat13

If you are entitled to free school meals, definately apply.

The school gets more money in their budget if they have more kids entitled to free school meals.

Also, at the school where I work, we apply a discounted rate for school trips. It's not the same at all schools but worth bearing in mind.

balletshoes

I think our school has just cottoned on to the "if you're entitled to free school meals please apply for them because the school benefits" because we've just had our first ever, in 5 years of being at the school, letter home about it!

OP does your school run its own out-of-school club? Ours has a breakfast club, which is free to any child at the school, as long as their parents work or are in education themselves.

elf06

The school does have after school clubs but there is an independant charity (I think it is anyway as it does lots of fundraising - will check that propery shortly) locally that does after school care and care during the holidays, its not held in the school but in a local hall so I was wondering if I would qualify for help with that