School meals can save you time and provide peace of mind that your child is enjoying a healthy, fresh and nutritious meal at lunchtime. Some of the benefits are:

• Meals are packed full of goodness, with at least two of your child’s five-a-day.
• They help to develop your children’s social skills and table manners.
• Evidence shows that regular consumption of school dinners can improve educational attainment.
• They save you time, with no shopping for sandwiches or making packed lunches.
• You get peace of mind knowing your child is getting a healthy, nutritious cooked meal.

If your child's eligible, you could save up to £400 a year with free school meals. You'll also be able to access the Healthy Holidays programme during some school holidays.

Can I apply for free school meals?

You qualify for free school meals if you receive:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit with an annual income of less than £16,190, provided you are not receiving Working Tax Credit
• the 'guaranteed' element of the State Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Universal Credit with an annual net earned income threshold of less than £7400
• support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Your child may also be entitled to a free school meal because of a benefit that they receive in their own right.

You can apply for free school meals using the link below;

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

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 get free school meals. However, if you receive one of the benefits listed above you should still apply for a free school meal. For each child registered for free school meals, the school will receive an annual pupil premium.