Please use the link below to check whether your child is entitled to free school meals and to find out about how to apply for free school meals on your local authority's website.
tps://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
How to apply for free school meals
You can apply for your children to receive free school meals if you are receiving certain welfare benefits.
All children get free school meals if they are in Year 1 or Year 2. If you receive any of the benefits below, you should still apply so that the school gets extra funding.
This money could go towards things like learning support and co-curricular or after-school activities.
Am I eligible?
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
- 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 guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.
Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:
- Younger than the compulsory age for starting school
- In full-time education
I don’t live in the borough where my child goes to school. Where do I apply?
To make it easier for you to check, we have compiled a list of local boroughs with links of how to apply. If yours is not listed below, please feel free to contact us for help to find out how.
Bexley Application Link
https://www.bexley.gov.uk/services/schools-and-education/free-school-meals/how-apply-free-school-meals/free-school-meals-form
Greenwich
If your child attends a school in another borough, you will need to apply to the relevant council or school directly. APPLY TO BEXLEY.
Bromley
If your child attends a non-Bromley school, you must apply to the local authority where the school is situated. APPLY TO BEXLEY.
Dartford
If your child attends a non-Dartford school, you must apply to the local authority where the school is situated. APPLY TO BEXLEY.
Medway
Does not specify the location of the school and just has a link to applications.
https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200164/school_information/354/free_school_meals. May need to go via Bexley after this process.
Tower Hamlets
Children whose parents live in the borough but who attend schools outside the borough. Parents should apply to the authority where the school is located. APPLY TO BEXLEY.
When these applications are completed, a notification should be sent to the school for us to update records accordingly, but we ask the parents/carers to send an email of confirmation to us too.
