Free School Meals Information
Around 1.8 million UK children are entitled to free school meals but more than 330,000 pupils don't get their entitlement. For some children, the social stigma or even teasing attached to "being on free dinners" puts them off. Often parents don't realise they're entitled. St Monica's cashless system means that no one will know your child is on free school meals except the administrator.
Children who eat well during the day concentrate better in lesson and sitting down to a meal together is an important part of aa child's social education.
Other reasons why free school dinners are important:
- 7% of children don't eat breakfast.
- Weight-for-weight, UK pupils eat 4 times as much confectionary as green vegetables.
- In an average class of 30 children, 6 pupils will not eat any fruit in a week.
Each local authority has a legal obligation to offer free school meals to children whose parents receive either:
- Income support
- Jobseeker's allowance (income based)
- Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
- Child tax credit but are not entitled to working tax credit and your annual income as assessed by the Inland Revenue does not exceed £14,155 (April 2007- April 2008. This may go up in future years)
If you think you qualify apply to the local authority in which you reside. Don't let your child miss out.
Bury
Children's Services
Athenaeun House
Market St
Tel: 0161 253 5630
Website: www.bury.gov.uk
Manchester
Revenues and Benefits Unit
PO Box 3
Manchester
M15 5BA
Tel: 0161 219 6100
Email: benefit.enquiries@manchester.gov.uk
Website: www.manchester.gov.uk
Salford
Salford Civic Centre
Unity House
Swinton
(Drop-in sessions 8:30 - 4:30 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Also 10:00 - 4:30 Wednesday).
Tel: 0161 909 6508
Website: www.salford.gov.uk
Application forms can be downloaded from the websites listed above.
| NOTE: If you are entitled to claim free school meals you are also entitled to claim a secondary school clothing grant if your child is in year 7 or year 10. |
If you have any initial enquiries you can contact Mrs Timperley in school on:
Tel: 0161 773 8986
Email: s.timperley@stmonicas.co.uk