Free school meals

[Mommyshere]

Ok we are eligible for free school meals. I don't really want to claim them but the school requires children to have an individual iPad. (An actual Apple iPad not an Amazon fire or cheaper alternative can I add. Ridic) you can rent them or buy them but for the children on free school meals they get them for free so that's my incentive really. I wouldn't really say we are a family 'in need' but we are eligible. However do we have to claim by September or can we claim at any time in the year??

Thanks in advance

It's better for the school if you claim them as the school receive more funding for children on FSM than those who are not.
I think you can claim them at any point, as people could have a change of circumstances at any point in the year and need them.

You’re not wrong to claim it at all! Bit honestly this has really pissed me off, why should any parent have to buy an iPad to allow their child to participate in education. It’s not fair for families full stop regardless of whether they meet the income band for FSM. Surely if it’s essential and state school the government should front the cost of at minimum offer interest free credit!

You can claim at any time but I thin’ you need to claim by October for the school to receive the pupil premium funding that year?

An iPad is insane though. They must think parents are made of money.

Having iPads is crazy.
I don't think the claim process is complicated. What puts you off applying?

I would encourage you to apply. The school will receive more funding if you do. Your DC may also be eligible for additional support throughout the school year (some of ours get subsidised music/sports clubs etc) and have more opportunities for school trips etc.

What is your reason for not claiming? You won't be taking the funding away from anyone else 'in need'.

I know some parents who save the amount saved from school lunches in a savings account for DC which soon adds up.

I’d apply ASAP as the school will get additional funding as well.

That seems very poor form by the school. I would think quite a few people who aren't eligible for FSMs would find forking out for an ipad tricky.

@SkyLarkDescending

I know some parents who save the amount saved from school lunches in a savings account for DC which soon adds up.

That’s nice but presumes that you have £40 a month knocking around spare per child to allocate to their savings account.

All the kids have to have an iPad?

@MotionActivatedDog

All the kids have to have an iPad?

I was responding to OPs comment that they are not a 'family in need'. If they don't need the money perhaps she could save it towards something else for the DC?

Sorry quoted wrong PP there. Was responding to @Howshouldibehave

@SkyLarkDescending

Sorry quoted wrong PP there. Was responding to *@Howshouldibehave*

It’s not like the school gives you the dinner money to take home and put in a piggy bank though.

To be honest I don't blame you for claiming.

However I am glad a PP has said it too. I read this thread yesterday and stopped myself from commenting as I didn't want to come across bitter but I feel this is terribly unfair on parents who can't afford things. (Not aimed at you OP, just in general).

I am a single parent and a one income household. That income being £13k a year. I get tax credits. Because I am mortgaged UC works out at a massive financial loss for me so I chose to stay on TC. However even despite my low income my child is not eligible for FSM etc. All because I get working tax credits.

I see threads on here all the time about UC and how some working claimants in a couple are awarded more than me and it never makes sense. Their positions are better than mine but somehow get awarded more. I struggled all through lockdown because we were eligible for nothing and I kept being told it's because I receive the wrong benefit.

When the time comes for school to be telling me my son needs an iPad it's going to have to be a no! Unless our lives drastically change I dont have the money. I barely get by every month as it is!

It's terribly unfair that children eligible for FSM get them for free when all other pupils parents will have to pay. Alot of parents send their children with packed lunches as they cant afford school meal costs past year 2!

I honestly don't blame you, I think we all would if we were in your position but I feel it's wrong of school to put parents in this position.

@Needanewadventure2021 you wouldn't be entitled to free school meals on universal credit. The income cut off is £7400. Anyone entitled to free school meals is on a very low income.

As unfair as the system perhaps is, all children in a school benefit when a child claims as the school gets money which in reality normally funds extra TAs.

@muchtoomuchtime I've seen this but there are various posts on mumsnet where households are earning more than that figure and are still eligible

@nocoolnamesleft

That seems very poor form by the school. I would think quite a few people who aren't eligible for FSMs would find forking out for an ipad tricky.

Exactly. Those just above the threshold, or even quite a bit above it might not have enough spare money for such an expensive item, or may simply see it as something that is poor value for money/an extravagence that they don't want to buy. Plus it's a lot to expect a primary age DC to look after and not lose, drop, have stolen etc.

I have a very good disposable income and would think twice about buying one and have never had any Apple products due to the high cost, although I do see that it says 'from £329' for the cheapest ipad on the Apple website, which is less than I thought - for some reason I thought they were maybe about £600+.

I don't disagree that buying an iPad is a something many families can't afford. And a terrible decision, unreasonable requirement. I do however think that people on free school meals are on a very low income and posts like this are misleading.

Possibly OP is part of the transition whereby government committed not to withdraw entitlement to those in receipt when they changed the criteria. Because otherwise the criteria are tight and those getting free school meals need the help.

Just claim it hun. You're entitled and an iPad is bloody expensive.