free school meals for 6th formers??

nicelittlefella1974

Hi all
I wonder if you could tell me if 6th formers will continue to get free school meals if the circumstances are the same as they were in july when they left the same school?
My daughter is 16 and is returning to the same school for the 6th form.She was getting free meals up until she left to take her GCSEs in may. Will she continue to get these when she returns in sept?
many thanks.

Horseunderwater

I would say doubtful - but check with School and your local authority if you can as she has technically left normal school now.

Valli

I can only state what I know of the situation in England. -

If you are still entitled to receive free school meals then yes she can.

You should also still be in receipt of child benefit as it is payable for children still at school or college who are in full time non-advanced eduation.

When she turns 18 she should be disregarded for the purposes of Council Tax too; so if you are a single parent with no other adults resident in the home you should be in receipt of a 25% discount; you may need proof, from the school, that she is in full time education to continue to receive this discount.

You need to check the website for your local authority.

This is from my LA site -

Children whose parents receive the following support payments are entitled to receive free school meals:

• 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 State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) that as of 6 April 2011 does not exceed £16,190.

In addition EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) ceased to be paid some time ago BUT there are bursary payments available to 6th form students from low-income families; again check your LA website or check with the school office.
Link to bursary information -
https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund

nicelittlefella1974

thankyou very much for your replies and help. I really appreciate it.

nicelittlefella1974

Just looking into the bursary for her too that you kindly sent me the link for. Unfortunately the freedom pass that was used to get her to and from school cannot be applied for for 6th form so im hoping she will be able to get a bursary to assist with travel costs.

Valli

nicelittlefella1974 wrote: »

Just looking into the bursary for her too that you kindly sent me the link for. Unfortunately the freedom pass that was used to get her to and from school cannot be applied for for 6th form so im hoping she will be able to get a bursary to assist with travel costs.

You're welcome.
Where (roughly) are you out of interest?

nicelittlefella1974

I am in Thanet,Kent.

Valli

Just that I know my information is valid for England; chances are the rules may differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland and, possibly, Wales too.

Ettenna

My daughter got free school dinners in 6th form. She also qualified for full bursary as well. But when she goes to college in September she won't get free school meals and apparently the college doesn't do the bursary.

princessdon

We give FSM if not in claim of other support. So if you claim our equivalent of EMA at approx £35 a week on top of CB and CT you get zero.

For others we pay bus pass over 3 miles and £3 pd lunch if not claiming additional financial support.

Our "ema" is awarded on attendance, punctuality and effort so can withdrawn at any time if students are not hitting targets of 95% attendance etc.

Valli

Ettenna wrote: »

My daughter got free school dinners in 6th form. She also qualified for full bursary as well. But when she goes to college in September she won't get free school meals and apparently the college doesn't do the bursary.

As I said earlier, my understanding is that FSM are for students in full time non-advanced eduaction, so if she has already been though 6th form it may be that her collecge course is and 'advanced' education course.

Student disregard for council tax applies, useful if there is only one, or there are no, eligible (to pay it) adults in the household.