School Meals

School Meals at Warmsworth Primary School

All children in Foundation 2, Year 1 and  Year 2 are currently entitled to receive a free school meal through the Universal Infant Free School Meals Scheme. 
A school meal is also available for all Key Stage 2 pupils to purchase. 

Payments for school meals for pupils in Key Stage 2 must be paid online via ParentPay or at a Pay Point using the appropriate payment card. All School meals must be paid for in advance of meals being taken.  The cost of a school meal from 1 April 2024 will be £2.85 per day.  Meals cancelled after 10:30 am will be charged at the full rate. 

Free School Meals - Could you be eligible to apply? 

There are two types of Free School meals available to children in school. These are defined below and the application for each will be outlined.

1. Universal Free School Meal Entitlement

This is available to all children in FS2 (Reception), Year 1 and Year 2. This funding comes direct from central government and states that all children in these year groups, in state-funded schools, will be offered a free lunch, regardless of any other criteria.

There is no need to apply for the Universal Free School Meal Entitlement as it is based entirely on age, however even though your child may be in FS2 (Reception), Year 1 and Year 2, you may meet the criteria to apply for Means-Tested Free School Meals (as described below) which will also provide additional school funding to spend on your child’s education and contribute towards the cost of additional activities, to fund additional support in your child’s classroom etc. For details, please see below.

2. Means-Tested Free School Meals

There is no maximum or minimum age limit linked to this type of Free School Meal. Registering for Means-Tested Free School Meals could save you £2.85 per day, per child, which is £14.25 per week per child, totaling up to £555.75 per year.

• Universal Credit - Your annual net earned income must be no more that £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to 3 of your most recent assessment periods.
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and your annual income is below £16,190 (as worked out by HM Revenue & Customs)
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Parents receiving Working Tax Credit for four weeks after their employment finishes are entitled to free school meals during that period. This also applies to parents who start working less than 16 hours per week

In addition to the above, some children who have been adopted, are under a Special Guardianship Order, or a Child Arrangements Order may also meet the criteria.

Registering for Free School Meals could also raise an extra £1,385 in Pupil Premium Funding for us as a school, to spend on your child’s education to contribute towards the cost of additional activities, to fund additional support in classrooms etc.

This funding is available from central government for every child whose parent is receiving one of the benefits listed above.

You can find out if you qualify for Free School Meals by visiting the DMBC website:

https://www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/schools/free-school-meals

If your child has left Local Authority care through adoption, Special Guardianship Order or a Child Arrangements Order, your child should be eligible for additional funding.

Please contact the school office if you have any questions – all information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Yours sincerely

Mrs R Train

Headteacher

If you are experiencing financial difficulties paying for your child's school meals, please contact the school office for advice and support.

Governors agreed on Tuesday 15 March 2022  that a child's lunch money debt will not be allowed to exceed £7.95. If the debt is not cleared we will contact you to remind you that unless payment is made immediately, then your child should either be taken home for lunch or a home packed lunch should be provided.

Pupils wishing to bring a packed lunch from home should bring it in  a sealed and named container. We request that any foods containing nuts and sweets and chocolate are not sent as part of the packed lunch.

Snacks:

As part of our Healthy Schools provision, pupils are encouraged to consume fruit which is provided free of charge to Key Stage 1 by Doncaster Local Authority. We do not allow children to bring sweets, cereal bars (or similar) or chocolate for break-time snacks, but children in Key Stage 2 may bring their own fruit to consume at breaktime, if they wish. 

Drinking water:

All children are encouraged to drink water during the school day as this supports healthy body and mind.  Please note, this must be plain water without flavouring or squash added.

Water bottles must be clear; preferably with a 'sports top'.   Only in exceptional circumstances and with a proven medical condition (letter from a Medical Practitioner) may a child bring other fluids to drink.