Free School Meals

Free School Meals are a good way to ensure that your child eats well at lunchtime. Claiming Free School Meals also helps the School. We get extra funding, known as ‘pupil premium’ for every pupil who is registered. Pupil Premium funding is not used to pay for school meals. Schools use the funding to improve the attainment of students who are eligible.  To find out more about Pupil Premium at Sexey’s, click here.

Is your child eligible for Free School Meals?

Your child qualifies for Free School Meals as long as you receive any of these benefits:

  •  Universal Credit with an annual household income of less than £7,400 after tax*
  •  Income Support (IS)
  •  Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related) – not Contribution related
  • Income-based Job Seekers Allowance (IBJSA) – not Contribution based
  • Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit.
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Child Tax Credit with an annual taxable income (as assessed by HMRC) of less than £16,190 as long as the family are not also in receipt of Working Tax Credit.

If you have recently become unemployed, but are still receiving Working Tax Credits, you may be entitled to Free School Meals. Please contact Somerset County Council’s (SCC) Children and Young People’s Team directly 0300 123 2224 for advice.

Please note, only the benefits listed above qualify for Free School Meals.

How to apply

  1. Please complete the on-line form by using the link here
  2. Please print a copy of the form to complete if you would prefer to make your application in paper form.
  3. You can email the completed form to SSC directly using childrens@somerset.gov.uk or send your paper form to Entitlements Team, County Hall, Taunton, TA1 4DY.
  4. I will be happy to submit your application on your behalf. Please email your completed form to dday@sexeys.somerset.sch.co.uk or send your paper copy to Mrs Day, Pupil Premium Administrator, Sexey’s School, Cole Road, Bruton, BA10 0DF.
  5. You do not need to submit any evidence at this stage. If SSC need evidence later, they will contact you directly.

How will you find out if you are eligible?

Your details will be entered in to a system, which will tell SSC whether you are entitled, or not. SSC will notify you directly of the outcome, usually within 5 to 10 working days of receiving your application. If you are eligible, SSC will tell you how to start receiving Free School Meals.

Useful SSC Contact Details and links:

Children and Young People’s Team,
Customer Contact,
PO Box 618,
Taunton,
TA1 3WF

Email: childrens@somerset.gov.uk

Tel: 0300 123 224 (select option 1)
https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

* Free School Meals during Universal Credit roll-out

Due to the national roll out of Universal Credits, the Department for Education has put in place protection for eligible children to continue to receive Free School Meals.

This only applies in England and is effective immediately, for children that are currently eligible or become eligible for Free School Meals, and means that they remain eligible until the end of the Universal Credit rollout on Thursday 31 March 2022. The protected Free School Meal will then continue until the end of the child’s current phase of education (e.g. primary or secondary).

For more information, please contact SSC’s Children and Young People’s Team directly on 0300 123 2224.