Extended criteria for Free School Meal applications5 May 2020 (by admin) |
If your financial circumstances have changed due to the current Cover-19 crisis you may be able to access some extra support.
Access to free school meals has been widened under Department for Education criteria. This may be applicable to some families where there has been a sudden change in circumstances and is planned to continue until schools reopen to all students. Government free school meals guidance
A child will be considered in need if:
- they are unlikely to achieve or maintain or to have the opportunity to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision of services by the local authority
- the child’s health or development is likely to be significantly impaired or further impaired without the provision of such services
- the child is disabled
The extended eligibility for free school meals is available to families with NRPF (no recourse to public funds). To meet the extended criteria the family must also have an annual household income of less than £7,400 per annum. To apply you should complete the online self-declaration form https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Educational-awards-benefits/FreeSchoolMeals/COVID-19-fsm-self-declaration-form-April-2020-v2.docx and provide the necessary income proof.
School is currently providing support to our existing families in receipt of Free School Meals via a shopping voucher through the Edenred Government scheme. Supermarket codes are emailed at the beginning of each week and can be redeemed in a number of local supermarkets.
We urge any of our families who may be struggling at this very difficult time to access this support. All information remains confidential.
