Free School Meals

Advantages to Using the Online Service

For Students 

• Faster access to free school meals

• Removes any stigma associated with free school meal application

For Parents/ Carers 

• Offers a faster, simpler and more convenient application process, saving time

• Delivers speedier notification of benefit entitlement

• Removes the need for paper proof of benefit

• Enables applications to be made in privacy via mobile phone, tablet or PC 

• Reduces application errors through computer assisted form validation

• On submission of the online application parents will receive instant email notification informing them whether or not their child(ren) is/are eligible for Free School Meals. The school will receive the same information and will be able to set students up on the system on the same day. 

On submission of the online application parents will receive instant email notification informing them whether or not their child(ren) is/are eligible for Free School Meals. The school will receive the same information and will be able to set students up on the system on the same day.

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Eligibility

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 of guardian, can also get free school meals. 

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 2022.       

Check your eligibility

Online FSM Application 

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Reminder about Free School Meals 

Students who are eligible for Free School meals will have the sum of £3.60 added to their catering account daily.  Any Free School Meal balance remaining at the end of the day is unable to be carried forward. 

This allocated amount is sufficient to buy a main meal (which includes the pasta pots and jacket potatoes) and a pudding if purchased at lunch time as a meal deal, however, it can be used to purchase other items such as sandwiches etc.  Drinks are not included in the meal deal so we ask that you send your child to school with a drink or re-fillable water bottle or a drink of your choice. Water is available in the dining halls. 

If you have any queries please contact the finance office at finance@rs.rklt.co.uk 

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School Meals 

We operate a cashless fingerprint system and parents/carers are encouraged to top up using our online payments system, Scopay.  There is a spending cap on the pupil’s catering accounts of £5 for breakfast, £5 for break and £6 for lunch.  If you wish to change the limit on your child’s account please contact the Finance Office.  We can either set a limit for each sitting or add a maximum daily spend.