Is your child entitled to Free School Meals?

Firstly there are two ways that your child can be eligible for a free school meal. The two ways are:

Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) 

and

Free School Meals (FSM)

Universal Free School Meals (UFSM)

Universal Free School Meals is a UK Government scheme that allows all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 to have a completely free school meal. You do not have to fill in any forms, all that you have to do is tell the school that you would like to receive the Universal Free School Meal. It is that simple, and they will remain entitled to a Universal Free School Meal until they move from Year 2 to Year 3. So if you are not already taking a Universal Free School Meal and would like to do so, please contact the School Office and they will arrange this for you.

Free School Meals (FSM)

Free School Meals is another UK Government scheme that exists to help families that are in receipt of certain benefits, allowances, tax credits or have low family income. To be eligible for the Free School Meals you need to be in receipt of one of the following:

• Income support
• Income-based Jobseeker Allowance
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• 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 the 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Universal Credit

If you are in receipt of any of the above and meet the criteria you are entitled to a Free School Meal. To get the Free School Meal, you have to apply online at the following website:

https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/birmingham

If you need any assistance with completing the online form for Free School Meals or are unsure about anything please come to the School Office and one of our staff will be able to assist you. If you do not have a computer at home, you can complete your Free School Meal application here in school. If you need to use one of our computers to complete your application please visit the School Office.

It is important that parents complete the Free School Meal eligibility checker even if your child intends to have packed lunches or a home dinner. All children that are eligible for Free School Meals will give the school additional funding from the UK Government which we can use to help your child. 

If you have any queries please visit the School Office, or give the School Office a call on 0121 464 4460.