Free School Meal Information

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Free School Meal Information

With the effects of Covid-19 contributing to many jobs being loss, we encourage any parents who meet the criteria for free school meals to apply. Information on how to apply through your local council are explained below.

Eligibility criteria is as follows:

Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:

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)

In addition, the following pupils will be protected against losing their free school meals as follows:

Pupils who were eligible on 1 April 2018, or who became eligible since then, continue to receive free meals, even if their household is no longer eligible under the benefits/low-earnings criteria, up until March 2025 and then until the end of their phase of education
New applicants for free school meals on or after 1 April 2018, who are in receipt of Universal Credit and have earnings above the earned income threshold, will not be eligible for free school meals

The Universal Credit rollout is currently expected to complete in March 2025

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

If your child is eligible for free school meals, they’ll remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they’re in on 31 March 2025.
This information was correct as of 9 February 2023

Important Information:
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

If your child is eligible for free school meals, they will remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they are in on 31 March 2022.

How to apply:
If you believe that you meet the criteria for free school meals for your child, please use the form below to apply through Croydon Council first. If successful, the council will send a letter of confirmation to you, as well as confirm your eligibility with the school.

Free School Meals Application

If you believe that you may be entitled, the College can make this check for you . Please complete the form below and send it to the Admissions department: [email protected]

Please click on the link below for the Free School Meals check form:

Free School Meals Checking Form