“PUPILS MISS OUT ON TUCKING INTO FREE SCHOOL MEALS”
Your child may be entitled to receive a free school meal. According to a newspaper report, “more than 1,300 local school children who are eligible for free school meals are missing out”.
The report comes following the release of government figures which state that almost 15,000 children across Greater Manchester are yet to make a claim. Claiming can be worth more than £300 a year for every child in a family. Wigan Council is now urging those who can make the claim to do so and at Nicol Mere, we also encourage the uptake of the entitlement.
A spokesperson from Wigan says “it is thought that there could be lots of reasons why parents do not claim a free meal for their child(ren). Maybe some families don’t believe they are able to claim, or maybe some children simply don’t want to eat school meals”.
Did you know that : - if your child is entitled to free meals and does not wish to have a cooked meal, he/she can order a sandwich meal which can be prepared in our Kitchen? or that :- children who are on our free school meals register are entitled also to a reduction in music lesson charges? - Please contact the School’s Administration office on 01942 720871 for further information.
Sometimes parents are concerned about any ‘stigma’ that may be attached to free school meals children - please speak to us, as we believe the procedure for entitlement is handled delicately and confidentially.
HOW TO CLAIM FREE SCHOOL MEALS
Children whose parents receive the following support payments are entitled to receive free school meals :
Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance, Support Under Part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 or Child Tax Credit and have an annual income which does not exceed £15,575, and you are not receiving Working Tax Credit.
To apply, parents need to complete the Council’s FREE SCHOOL MEALS APPLICATION FORM, which is available from the free school meals office by telephone on
01942 828609, where the necessary help and advice can be sought.
Forms are also available from the following libraries : Abram, Ashton, Aspull, Atherton, Golborne, Ince, Orrell and Standish. To get further help with the form, visit any Wigan and Leigh Housing office, the Council Tax Offices in Whelley, Leigh Town Hall, or Wigan Civic Centre on Millgate, Wigan.
Don’t miss out - make sure you claim your entitlement – each child on our
school’s free meals register will receive a voucher whether they actually
take up a free meal or not.