Parents claiming some benefits can claim free school meals for any of their children who are registered at Netherhall Mead Academy. School meals are a good way to ensure that your child eats well at lunchtime, and you can save yourself time and money. 

Even if you don’t want your children to have the meals, claiming them helps the school. The more eligible parents who claim meals, the more funding our school receives.  This money allows us to provide additional support for pupils, resources and activities such as music lessons.  It also helps to subsidise trips and activities which are outlined in our Pupil Premium Strategy.  

Your child may be eligible for free school meals If you receive: – 

  • Income Support 
  • Income Based Job Seeker’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 are 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 four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit 
  • Universal credit with annual net earned income of less than £7,400 

If your child is eligible for free school meals, they will remain eligible until they finish school. 

Any students in full-time attendance at school, who continue to be eligible, may receive free school meals until their 19th birthday. 

How do I apply for FREE SCHOOL MEALS? 

For Leicester City Residents: You can apply online at  http://freeschoolmeals.leicester.gov.uk or phone on 0116 454 1009 (make sure you have your national insurance number when you call) 

For Leicestershire County Council residents: Apply online at  https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children/social-care-and-supporting-families/free-school-meals.  Please note that you have to register to use the online portal.  

You can provide proof of eligibility as follows:- 

For all qualifying benefits listed – 

Complete the details of the person claiming benefit on the application form and tick the box to give your permission for the Local Authority to check your entitlement online. 

Alternatively, you can provide proof in one of the following ways: 

  • Income Support – letter of entitlement to Income Support which must be dated no more than 6 weeks before the date of application. 
  • Income Based Job Seeker’s Allowance – letter of entitlement to Income Based Jobseekers Allowance which must be dated no more than 6 weeks before the date of application. 
  • Child Tax Credit – Tax Credit Award TC602(A), as supplied by the Inland Revenue for the current tax year. 
  • National asylum seeker support – Vouchers as supplied by the Inland Revenue. 
  • Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit – Pension Credit Award Notice (M1000) for current tax year. 
  • Income Related Employment and Support Allowance – letter of entitlement to Income Related Employment and Support Allowance which must be dated no more than 6 weeks before the date of application. 
  • Universal Credit – proof in writing of receiving Universal Credit 

If you have no recourse to public funds (NRPF) please access the information on the Leicester City Council website to check eligibility. https://www.leicester.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/grants-and-allowances/free-school-meals/free-school-meals-for-families-with-no-recourse-to-public-funds/ 

  

If you need any help completing the form, please contact the Welfare Team at Netherhall Mead Academy who will be happy to help.