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Original poster

Free schools meals in non maintained school

15 replies

fairgame · 10/09/2014 19:22

DS (9) has just started at a non-maintained special school. His place is funded by the LA and it's an out of county placement.
Ordinarily DS is entitled to free school meals as i am on income support and he had free meals while at his mainstream school.
I have tried to apply for free school meals for his new school but i seem to be unable to get them. The school is a split site school and DS attends a site based in a county council area. The county council won't fund FSM because the main school is based in a city council area. The city council won't fund FSM because 1. it's a non-maintained school and 2. DS attends the the site in the county council area. I'm basically going round in circles!

I have spoken to the school and they are going to look into it but i'm not hopeful at the moment. I feel that i might have to write a letter of complaint but i need to know what the rules are before i end up making a tit of myself.

What are the rules re FSM is non-maintained schools? Are councils obliged to honor FSM or is it up to each individual council? I've had a look online but it's a bit vague.
Any advice would be appreciated Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
fairgame · 10/09/2014 20:09

Bump

OP posts:
Lucked · 10/09/2014 20:28

I knew nothing about this but have done a bit of googling. Have you seen the non-maintained schools regulations 2011 here on pages 10 and 11 it clearly states the school just provide FSM where appropriate.

It also states that the school must have a governing body. So perhaps taking it up with the governing body and let them know they are contriving the regulations.

It is crap that you have to chase around the councils for this.

Original poster
fairgame · 10/09/2014 20:44

Fabulous thankyou very much lucked

I can relax a bit now and i'll let the school arguesort it out with the council(s) Smile

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concernedaboutheboy · 10/09/2014 22:58

She left your child with an assistant without a current DBS check and so I think she has actually broken her registration conditions. I think a chat with Ofsted would be useful but be aware they may take it further...

concernedaboutheboy · 10/09/2014 22:59

Oh dear - sorrry Blush. Completely wrong thread.

ReallyTired · 11/09/2014 22:18

Surely the school would want the pupil premium associated with your child being on free school meals. I feel that the school should be helping you sort this out. It would not be unreasonable to complain.

Original poster
fairgame · 12/09/2014 10:57

The school are looking into it for me as they said they have had this problem before.

I spoke to the FSM department at my local council yesterday to ask for their advice and apparently they are sorting it out! I didn't know that they were even looking into so i was quite surprised. The lady who is dealing with it is on annual leave this week but she will ring me next week. Fingers crossed anyway X

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Original poster
fairgame · 16/09/2014 17:33

I have emailed DS's SEN officer at our local council. The school won't be eligible for pupil premium as it is an independent school. However they are going to look into making sure DS is still entitled to FSM. I feel a bit bad as he is in an expensive placement and i thought FSM came out of a different budget. I think i will just pay for the meals myself, it's only £10 per week and he is an only child so it's not a huge expense.

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concernedaboutheboy · 16/09/2014 18:09

You are too kind. Honestly if he is eligible just claim. That is what tax receipts are for. I may be wrong but I think the rules have changed this year so that PP can be payable in respect of students at non-maintained special schools. Not independent mainstream school tho.

concernedaboutheboy · 16/09/2014 18:13

Yes, just checked. It is a condition of funding that pupil premium for 'ever 6' funding must be paid to non-maintained special schools. LAs do not have any discretion. If it's just an indy mainstream school that won't apply tho.

Original poster
fairgame · 16/09/2014 20:51

It's definitely an non-maintained special school. I'll ring the school tomorrow and see what they say. They were meant to be looking into for me anyway. I don't understand why things have to be so difficult, it's bad enough having a child with SN without all this extra hassle!

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concernedaboutheboy · 16/09/2014 21:38

Have you ever had anything to do with IPSEA? They are great and can help when LAs are being difficult/ unhelpful.

Original poster
fairgame · 16/09/2014 21:42

I've had dealings with IPSEA before and their advice was terrible tbh. I'll speak to school tomorrow and if I get no further I'll ring the national autistic society as I've had good advice off them in the past.

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concernedaboutheboy · 16/09/2014 22:31

Eek - that surprises me Shock.

Sounds like you know where to go. There is also CHildren's Legal Centre and SOS-SEN which might be worth a try. Good luck with getting it all sorted. You're right, it shouldn't be this hard. Is your local parent partnership service any good?

Original poster
fairgame · 17/09/2014 08:11

Parent partnership are ok if you can get hold of them.
IPSEAs advice was to put DS in a smaller ms school. All other professionals, including the LA, agreed he needed a ss so I was shocked that IPSEA suggested ms.

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