Free school meals - no longer eligible, whom do I contact?

[fuzzpig]

Turns out DD (in junior) is on the FSM list. I've been sending her with packed lunches as we no longer get the right benefits.

I don't want to accept them (tempting as it is as things are really tight ATM) if we shouldn't get them so who do I contact to clarify this?! I'd thought they'd send a renewal form or something or we needed to apply every year (which obviously I saw no point in doing)

Can anyone advise please :)

[annielostit]

Speak to the school secretary first. If you get no joy call your council ask for dept education-free meal dept.
The school wouldnt check until there's an audit as they get extra funds for pupils receiving FSM.

[Shizlack]

Agree with Annie, I used to do the FSMs in a secondary and the school office should either score her name off a list or take them off of her pre-paid card if you have one.

TBH when we did audits if we had a child that wouldn't/couldn't hand back the forms we just suspended FSM from the prepaid card, we never chased to check exact date it would stop, we only cared if they handed in the right forms when we asked for them athe end of the year. (So if it ran out in Sept we'd only suspend FSM when we didn't get new paperwork in May)

[annielostit]

I was the nice lady that was in the kitchen.

[fuzzpig]

Oh is it May that they should be renewed then? We didn't get any forms, only when we first signed up over a year ago.

I will try the council first as I already asked the receptionist, and as far as she was concerned DD was on the list therefore she gets the meals.

[fuzzpig]

(Even though I did say I thought we shouldn't be eligible anymore)

are FSM supposed to stop instantly then or do they give you a few weeks grace etc? Not that it's relevant now but I'm curious!

[fuzzpig]

Got through on the phone, he said it wasn't a problem, and said to email the details, so I've done that. Will tell school on Monday

[fuzzpig]

Thank you both by the way :)

[Shizlack]

I'm glad it got sorted.

When I did it we'd send out the letters to say we needed to see the letter that stated you got what benefits, then we'd copy it to send it to council HQ to prove we weren't just activating any old dinner payment card. We did this once a year so say at the end if the year you just said to me you didn't want FSM/chose not to give us the form that'd be it.

If we were chasing pupils and parents and they didn't give the form back we would send out a text message (the same method we'd send out late/no show notifications) saying the pupil wouldn't get FSM. But normally that'd be after a couple of months warning that we needed forms and informing guidance teachers so they'd check the child was eating.

[FTMK]

Hi. Teacher here. Just to point out the school get additional money for your child (pupil premium money) if they have been on FSM in the last 6 years. It may be that your child is on this list (sometimes called Ever 6 as it's a list of children who've ever been on FSM in the last 6 years). So your child will still be on this list and should be receiving extra support / opportunities if they need it. This will continue at high school and can mean they get subsidised trips and clubs as well. She will stay on the list until 6 years after FSM ended.

You're right to stop it if you're not in receipt of the right benefits but it's worth knowing that school could help your daughter with other things because you've been in receipt in the past.

[fuzzpig]

Yes we were told when we first signed up to FSM last year that she would continue getting the pupil premium :)