Universal Infant Free School Meal

All infant age pupils (Reception/Years 1 and 2) are entitled to receive a free school meal.

Although infant children will automatically receive a free school meal, we’re asking families who have a statutory entitlement to free school meals to complete an application form online www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/children-families-and-education/schools-and-learning/free-school-meals/ so that we can check if the school is entitled to receive Pupil Premium for your child.

The Pupil Premium grant is provided by the government for each eligible child and this money is used to fund valuable support in the school.  You can see how the school uses the Pupil Premium funds by visiting the Pupil Premium  section of the website. https://holytrinitybarnsley.org/school-information/pupil-premium/

Even if you don’t want your child to receive a free school meal, we’d ask you to complete the application from so that the school receives as much funding as possible.

Free School Meal

For a pupil of other year groups to receive Free School Meals, the pupil’s parent/guardian must receive one of the following:

  • Income support
  • Income based job seekers allowance
  • Income related employment and support allowance
  • Guarantee element of state pension credit
  • Child tax credit with no working tax credit and have an income as assessed by the Inland Revenue that does not exceed £16,190 (subject to change annually)
  • Support under Part 1V of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Children whose parents or guardians are in receipt of working tax credits and disabled working tax credits do not qualify for free school meals.

The council only has a duty to provide a free school meal once a request has been made by a parent, so if you meet the above criteria, you need to complete an on line application for free school meals on line via the council website

www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/children-families-and-education/schools-and-learning/free-school-meals/

If your application is successful, the council will write to you and to your child’s school to confirm your entitlement and free school meals will be available from the day of application.

Frequently Asked Questions

To qualify for free school meals you must be in receipt of:

  • Income support
  • Income based job seekers allowance
  • Income related employment support allowance
  • Guarantee element of state pension credits
  • Child tax credits with no working tax credits and an income (as assessed by Inland Revenue) of less than £16,190
  • Support via the Home Office under the National Asylum Support Service

You do not qualify if you are in receipt of working tax credits.

When the council receive and process your application you will be sent a confirmation of entitlement letter. Copies of which will be forwarded to us here at Holy Trinity.

The authority have not been able to confirm your benefit entitlement. You need to re-apply.

Yes you need to apply for each child as and when they start school.

No – the Authority change the details on the system and check benefit details, and inform us at Holy Trinity.

Free school meals are available from the date of application. Only in exceptional circumstances would a claim be backdated for example if benefits were awarded retrospectively. You would have to put your request in writing.

Parents/guardians in receipt of working tax credits are not entitled to free school meals.