Free School Meals
Rossett School is pleased to be able to offer an online Free School Meals service removing a considerable amount of time from the application process.
Advantages to Using the Online Service
For Students
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Faster access to free school meals
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Removes any stigma associated with free school meal application
For Parents/ Carers
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Offers a faster, simpler and more convenient application process, saving time
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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.
Eligibility
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
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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.
Reminder about Free School Meals
Students eligible for Free School Meals receive a £3.60 allowance each school day for lunch. This credit is added to their catering account and must be used on the same day, as any remaining balance cannot be carried forward. The allowance is sufficient to buy a main meal plus a pudding when purchased as a lunchtime meal deal. It can also be spent on other items like sandwiches if preferred. Drinks are not included in the meal deal, so please ensure your child brings a drink from home, a refillable water bottle, or another drink of your choice. Free drinking water is available in the dining halls.
In addition, students on Free School Meals receive a £2.00 breakfast allowance each school day, which covers one food item plus a bottle of water or a carton of juice.
School Meals
We operate a cashless fingerprint system and parents/carers are encouraged to top up using our online payments system, Arbor. There is a spending cap on the pupil’s catering accounts of £5 for breakfast, £5 for break and £6 for lunch, with a daily spending limit of £8. 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.
