Frequently asked questions
Who should apply for free school meals?
We request that all families with children of school age who are attending a state funded school in Newham apply for free school meals irrespective of their employment or immigration status. Only those in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits will be entitled but we use the application every week to recheck the current entitlement status of all claims in our system. This means we maximise the number of children in receipt of free school meals without families having to remember to reapply or notify us when their circumstances change.
Note: only family members with parental responsibility for a child can make a claim for free school meals.
Why do families with children in primary school need to apply for free school meals, when the children eat for free?
Although all children attending an infant, junior or primary school in London are given a free school lunch under the Government’s Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme or the Mayor for London’s extension, we ask all families to apply for free school meals to maximise the funding given to schools to provide additional support to children entitled to free school meals. This funding is called Pupil Premium Ever 6 FSM.
How often do families need to reapply for free school meals?
Families with children attending a state funded school in Newham only need to submit one free school meal application for each of their children for the duration of their education in this borough, unless they leave and later return to school in Newham, in which case a new claim will be required. CYPS Education pupil benefits officers in use the existing claims in our system to recheck the entitlement status every week and notify schools of any changes.
Do families need to reapply if their child changes school?
No, if you have a claim in our system you do not need to reapply if your child changes school within Newham. Families do not even have to reapply when their child moves from primary to secondary school as CYPS Education pupil benefits officers will notify secondary schools of the free school meal status for the year 6 pupils due to start at their school.
How is free school meal entitlement determined (worked out)?
CYPS education pupil benefits officers submit the applicant’s name, date of birth and National Insurance number or NASS number as entered on the free school meal claim to the Department for Education’s eligibility checking service, known as ECS, for a decision. This database holds all live (current) benefit information provided by the Department for Work and Pensions and Asylum Seeker information from the Home Office. The ECS only provides the entitlement status - no financial or benefits information is shared.
Should families be asked for proof of their benefits for free school meals purposes?
Not in the majority of cases. Since the introduction of the Department for Education’s Eligibility Checking Service (ECS) in 2014 local authorities and schools in England should ask for proof of benefit for free school meal purposes. Entitlement is determined via the ECS. However a manual check of your benefits will be required to determine eligibility for self-employed Universal Credit claimants. These families will need to submit their proof (see next question for more detail).
Do council officers or school staff see the amount of earning or benefit applicants are receiving?
Not in the majority of cases, as the Department for Education’s ECS only provides one of three outcomes, entitled, not entitled or details not found. This means applicants personal benefit information remains confidential.
However a manual check will be required to determine eligibility for self-employed Universal Credit claimants. These claimants will need to provide evidence that:
- They are in receipt of Universal Credit, by providing their Universal Credit award letter
- They are self-employed, by providing a copy of their company registration or tax return form
- Their monthly net earnings do not exceed the threshold as set out above. Schools should request that self-employed claimants complete the self-declaration
What happens when a new claim form is received by CYPS Education pupil benefits officers?
The applicant’s details from the claim are uploaded to the Department for Education’s ECS for a decision.
The ECS outcome of the free school meals claim is sent to the applicant to the email address at the point of application. The ECS outcome applies only to the children listed on the application form, which may not be all the children in the family.
The ECS outcome of the claim is also sent to the child’s school so they can update their school system.
What happens if an applicant’s entitlement to the qualifying benefits changes?
Where a free school meal entitlement status change is reported by the Department for Education’s ECS, our local system is updated to show the new claim status. The CYPS Education pupil benefits officers notify the child’s school of the revised claim status.
Do nursery children receive Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM)?
The Government’s Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) entitlement is for children in in reception, year 1 and year 2.
