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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
The Government has announced new arrangements for Free School Meals.
From September 2026, there will be three categories of free school meal provision:
- Targeted Free School Meals – for pupils in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less.
- Expanded Free School Meals – for pupils in households receiving Universal Credit who do not meet the £7,400 earnings threshold.
- Universal Infant Free School Meals – continuing for all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.
What this means for families:
From September 2026, the current transitional protection arrangements will end. This means that some children who previously remained eligible for Free School Meals after a change in family circumstances may no longer qualify if they do not meet the new eligibility criteria.
We strongly encourage all parents and carers who receive Universal Credit to apply for Free School Meals, even if they are unsure whether they qualify.
Registering can provide access to:
- Free school meals where eligible
- Additional support for your child’s education through school funding
- Help with other benefits and support that may be available through the school or local authority
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.
