‘Don’t miss out’ is the message from Central Bedfordshire Council, in a new campaign which aims to encourage all eligible families to claim free school meals for their children.
More than 3,500 children currently get free school meals in Central Bedfordshire, but lots more could qualify. Your child may be eligible if you get any of the following benefits: Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit, Support from the National Asylum Support Service, Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and you have an income that does not exceed £16,190.
Deputy Executive Member for Children’s Services, Councillor Amanda Dodwell, said: “It’s really important that children eat a healthy, nutritious and tasty meal during the school day.
“Research shows that having a school dinner can help with concentration levels in lessons and longer term it helps children and young people to develop healthy eating habits.
“In tough economic times, it’s vital that we give families as much support as we can. So if you think your child might be eligible get in touch.”
Schools also benefit from increased Government funding when pupils have free school meals, and some universities use the free school meal criteria to allocate scholarships under the National Scholarship Programme Award Scheme.
Finding out if you could claim free school meals for your child couldn’t be easier. Call the council on 0300 300 8306 and have National Insurance numbers and dates of birth of you and your partner, dates of birth for your children, and if you receive support from the National Asylum Support Service, your NASS number.