Shh we wont tell anyone (school)

spicyprawn

I'll just apply for it then if theres no trouble on my part, I just thought how they had worded the text it was something they shouldn't be doing.

Emmarillo

I don't know if all schools do this but my daughter had two terms on free school meals when my husband was out of work and they were also allowed to do an after school club free as well. I'd already signed up for one and had £36 refunded.

claire16c

LandyAndy wrote: »

I agree.

When I was in primary school in the 60s we all knew who the 'poor families' were because they didn't have to walk to the front of the class and hand over their half a crown on a Monday morning.

Yeah I agree. I remember at primary school there was about 60 of us in my year, and there was only 1 boy who was allowed free school meals and everyone knew who he was because he never had to hand any money over. Although no one actually cared, I just remember him I guess because he was in the minority so it must have stood out to me at the time.

I wish my DHs mum had done the same as that boys mum and applied for it. He said he only used to get jam sandwiches everyday because she couldnt afford anything else- when he was entitled to a cooked meal!

jellyhead

It may work differently at other schools, but at ours the dinner money can be paid using a variety of methods including paying in advance at the office for the day, week, month or term or whatever you like, it's flexible. They can also be paid for on the day and the kids can take their money in a pot or an envelope (or hand over an empty pot, and nobody knows).

Whoever sorts out the admin for the dinners will have a list of who is entitled to free school dinners, who has paid in advance and whatever then they just check that anyone else who asked for one has put money in the basket.

The other kids would never know who gets free school meals, and even your own child does not need to know, you can tell them that you pay in advance at the office.

We get notes sent home sometimes asking us to let the office know if we are entitled to FSM. Apparently, funding for stuff depends on how many kids are entitled to FSM, as others have said.

If you are entitled you could let the school know and they will keep it confidential. Your child does not ever need to have a hot dinner.

jellyhead

It varies by area, but kids entitled to FSM in our area (Staffordshire) can also apply for money for other stuff. It's called 'get active' and is around £190 per child per year. It can be used for theme park tickets, swimming lessons, college courses, school trips, football tickets, driving lessons, brownies uniform etc. etc. and you just fill in a form at the office.

Also, high school kids get free uniform. At the school my son goes to the kids on FSM get a free sweatshirt, tie, PE shirt and rugby shirt. At my nephews school they get half price on everything at the uniform shop.

They also get the holiday club free, so it's worth doing if you are entitled.

merlin68

In my children's school no money is needed for school dinner's. They have a card which is topped up each day with a set amount of money on it.
Even the paying kids had one. It is far safer than kid's carrying money around.

custardy

LandyAndy wrote: »

I agree.

When I was in primary school in the 60s we all knew who the 'poor families' were because they didn't have to walk to the front of the class and hand over their half a crown on a Monday morning.

one of the high schools i attended had that covered
money was paid at the office on a Monday for a weekly ticket
the same ticket that was used for free school meals
so everyone was the same

mumto2loves

yes our school has asked this recently as well.

funny how things change, I can remember the 2 children in my class who got free school dinners and as far as i remember no one actually took the mick but in my head they were the odds ones out and they were poor. (:o)
Now my 8 year old daughter is openly jealous of her friends having free school dinners everyday, because I can't afford to pay for both of mine to have them everyday but not quite poor enough to get them free they only get to choose 2 days a week.

wantnomoneyworries

Definitely benefits the school. In the area I live there is a complicated formula for the amount of money the school gets but it heavily weighted to those schools with more free school dinners. Parents are encouraged to apply even if they don't take up school dinners as it benefits the whole school.

Janepig

I don't think it's just about funding though - it's about the position of the school in any "league tables" I think. I'm fairly sure in Wales it's called a "weighted scorecard" and if the school is underperforming, but has a high number of free school meals, then they go up the table on that basis.

I know it's something that's always mentioned in the school inspection reports I've read. DD/DS's school has got a very low number of kids on free meals - the headteacher mentioned it afew months back and asked parents to make sure they claim if they're entitled.

Jx