Do I have to pay for the supervision lunch charge if my son (4y.o.) is eligible for free school meals?

[reablaz]

Hello,

Do I have to pay for the supervision lunch charge if my son (4y.o.) is eligible for free school meals?

I have applied for free school meals recently, and received an email saying my child is eligible for free school meals.

The school charges parents £382 per academic year for the supervision at lunch time between 11:30 and 12:15 every day (45min), which is £2 per day (£10 a week, £382 per year in total); doesn't not matter if a child eats school meals (free or not), or bring their own lunch boxes with home food (schools still have to supervise and charge for it).

Google AI says if a child is eligible for free school meals, parents do not have to pay for supervision charge. We also receive 30 free hours.

Google/AI:
"Yes, if your child is eligible for free school meals, the supervision charge during lunchtime is typically covered, as the school is required to provide proper facilities and supervision for all pupils to eat their meals safely, regardless of whether they pay for lunch or not; this includes children receiving free school meals."

Government website:
"Facilities to eat the food that they bring to school must be provided free of charge for pupils not taking school meals. As a minimum these facilities should include accommodation, furniture and supervision so that pupils can eat food they have brought from home in a safe and social environment."

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standards-for-school-food-in-england/school-food-in-england#:~:text=Facilities%20to%20eat%20the%20food,a%20safe%20and%20social%20environment.

I am confused, do we have to pay for the supervision or not?

Is it allowed by law for the school to charge for the supervision?

I am looking for calm and relevant answers with no criticism, arrogance, sarcasm or irony. If it is not the right place, please let me know, if there are any communities, forums, groups where I can ask these questions; or possibly, should I call to my district council, school itself or citizens advice?

Thank you.

You have applied for a reception place then.

In England many schools have nurseries attached either from age 3 or from age 2. But they are separate in terms of admission.

You then apply to the local authority for admission into reception (nursery attendance doesn’t guarantee a place)

If he is in reception they can't charge for lunchtime supervision as it is part of the school day. If he is in a maintained nursery I don't know so I think it would he best if you contact your local authority.

If he is in the nursery year you have to pay. If he’s in reception they cannot charge you. Did you decide to hold back a summer born?

Think you mean you child is in a nursery, not in school yet.

30hrs is while a child is in nursery, up to the point they start reception at age 4.

All children get free school meals in England in reception, year 1 and year 2.

I think you are talking about a nursery? Where your child is attending the whole day (so morning and afternoon sessions) so you have to pay the time in between the sessions and can use your funded hours for the morning and afternoon sessions

He's in preschool/nursery at that age. And if he goes for the hours 8.30 to 3.15 you have to cover the lunchtime, you only get 6 hours per day. Our school nursery gives you the option, pay for lunch or collect at 2.30pm

He’s in nursery. You have to pay.

He is not starting year 1 in September he will be starting reception.

To those incredulous that op had made this mistake - it's possible that they didn't grow up in the UK or there's a language barrier, or they just haven't been closely involved with young children until now. And a mixed nursery/reception setting has muddied the waters. Either way, they found the right place and asked the question and have had answers so no harm done, and supporting people with all elements of raising children is what mn is here for.
All the best op.

@reablaz did you apply by January this year for a school place? Because results haven't been revealed yet so I'm confused why you think he's in reception?

You definitely have to pay.

I have applied and received a message we are eligible:

"Hello Mr,

The eligibility check has confirmed that you meet the eligibility criteria for
Free School Meals.

Your application reference is . The reference can be used to re-apply
later and for any other communication with the school about Free School Meals.

The school (school name redacted) that ... attends will be notified as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

-- The OFSM Team"

The morning session at [school name redacted] Primary School and Nursery in [town name redacted] runs from 8:30 AM–11:30 AM, and the afternoon session runs from 12:15 PM–3:15 PM.

This definitely refers to Nursery.

Your child is in Nursery, not Reception. He will be going in to Reception in September.

Contact your Local Authority Funding Team and explain that the school has a compulsory charge in the middle of the day which is preventing you from taking your full 30 hours free of charge. They will look in to it.

The school is absolutely within their rights to offer a 6 hour day, fron 9.25am to 3.15pm (6 hours x 5 days a week = 30 hours) and also offer an additional morning session fron 8.30am to 9.15am (and charge what they like for this).

There are free school meals for all children in reception - year 2 and a separate entitlement for nursery age children if they’re low income households.

I am so confused how you don’t know what year your child is in or what year they will be in when they start school?!

My kids are older but its not changed since they attended. Our primary had a nursery unit that my children attended from age 3...As part of, and under the authority of the main school. Any kids there fell under the same umbrella as any other primary school attendee. I've honestly never heard of being charged for supervision

Do they offer hot meals to those attending both am/pm . You may still need to pay the cover charge as it is out of the funded session time but meal would be free. From September no charge applies anyway.

Please speak to the school about FSM. Some schools will use their Early Years Pupil Premuim to find FSM for nursery children, some will just honour FSM even if there is no funding attached. You school office will be able to help.

Forget the free school meals issue surely your biggest issue is have you actually applied for a school place for your child for September??

Yes she has already said she has.

OP if you can’t afford the charge then I would talk to the school and I am sure they will put something in place.

Yes but she also thought he was already in Reception!

Maybe you told them your child was at school and in reception year? But turns out they are in nursery.

He's not in school yet, he's in nursery that is attached to the school. He should start school in reception where all children qualify for free school meals. As far as I'm aware you will still have to pay for meals whilst he is at nursery

I appreciate she's said she's applied but I find it hard to understand how a parent who has just submitted a reception place application could think their child was already in reception and going into year 1 hence wanting to check she had actually submitted an application?

The Department for Education details what things state schools can and can’t charge for in the 2018 publication, Charging for school activities. It is available online.

Ups, then we will pay of course, but nobody told us for 1 year and a half (starting from Sep 2023 until July 2024, then Sep 2024 until now March 2025) we were eligible for infant free school meals. I assume, we can use them from now until July 2025 (what's left), is that right?

So he’s in Nursery, in my school the nursery and reception classes are in the building. If a nursery child wants to stay for lunch they have to pay a supplement, the lunch may be free and supervision whilst eating but not the remaining 45 minutes break,
thats what you need to pay for