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Original poster

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

214 replies

reablaz · 01/03/2025 16:57

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.

OP posts:
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Daisymae23 · 04/03/2025 14:55

reablaz · 04/03/2025 14:38

Luckily, I don't have to deal with your setting when you discriminate families and children who ask questions, and find acceptable by law, but fake in reality reasons (because the reason behind is - I don't like parents who ask questions). Tell me the name of your nursery, so I better spend some time to write a bad review, and make a complaint to the authorities.

I see, you like to argue similar to some other people in this forums, and shout the mouths of parents (NO questions!). :D

I did not say I don't want the nurseries to use EYPP. I said I don't see the clarity, and nobody is saying to me how would they accommodate my child. From my perspective is, I apply, and that is it, I see no change, no contact from nursery, nothing. I don't need EYPP to be mine, I have just asked if the nursery/school can use it towards supervision lunch charge. And some people are saying it is unlawful to make an artificial break between sessions, providing a lawful reason why - the government guidelines. And I would be thankful to you if I see the results of why did I apply for EYPP, and if you helped my child, or organised something beneficial to all children with EYPP (including mine), but I just need to be aware of it.

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I have mentioned 3 times…

EYPP policy will be on the schools website. If you can’t find it, the school can provide.

fashionqueen0123 · 04/03/2025 16:28

Daisymae23 · 04/03/2025 12:02

This confused me too but think there are some other use cases like asylum seekers.

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I thought that but then I still don't think it tallies up with working full time. As most can't work. Honestly none of it makes sense and the OP doesn't answer questions.

Daisymae23 · 04/03/2025 16:54

fashionqueen0123 · 04/03/2025 16:28

I thought that but then I still don't think it tallies up with working full time. As most can't work. Honestly none of it makes sense and the OP doesn't answer questions.

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🤷‍♀️ yes, the only time I’ve seen FSM and 30 hours was a single mum who worked 16 hours term time only at minimum wage.

FrannyScraps · 04/03/2025 16:55

fashionqueen0123 · 04/03/2025 16:28

I thought that but then I still don't think it tallies up with working full time. As most can't work. Honestly none of it makes sense and the OP doesn't answer questions.

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No the whole thing is a wind up and deliberately provocative.

fashionqueen0123 · 04/03/2025 17:00

FrannyScraps · 04/03/2025 16:55

No the whole thing is a wind up and deliberately provocative.

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Yup wondering if it’s real tbh.

SinkToTheBottomWithYou · 04/03/2025 18:26

reablaz · 04/03/2025 11:51

I am okay with that, does school have to show parents, how did they use the fund for their child? If I don't see the clear picture how it would benefit my child, the results, I do not bother to apply. I don't need this fund to save money, but if it was possible to cover the supervision lunch charge cost, I would use it. If not, I am okay without the fund. It is my opinion, you have your own opinion, apply for the fund yourself to benefit the school if you want to help the school, and you have time for that. I am focussed to help my family, not the school.

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Your attitude is unbelievable. What a level of entitlement.
You don’t sound grateful at all from the free education you are getting for your child from a country that has welcomed you. How long have you been paying taxes? Don’t you realise how lucky you are to be in a country that gives so many benefits to people who just arrived? But no, having to pay for lunch supervision is an outrage, why would you have to pay anything towards your child’s care?…

You are refusing to spend a few minute filling a form to benefit the nursery who is caring for your child, only because it won’t be fully spent on him. Don’t you realise how selfish you are being?

And not even understanding that your son is in Nursery and not Reception… The world must have been written in so many school communications.

I am a foreigner here as well, before you accuse me of anything.

Scrubberdubber · 04/03/2025 19:14

Daisymae23 · 04/03/2025 16:54

🤷‍♀️ yes, the only time I’ve seen FSM and 30 hours was a single mum who worked 16 hours term time only at minimum wage.

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Even that would be too much income for FSM now. Has to be under 7.4k which even on minimum wage is less than 12 hours.
And then you wouldn't be working enough for 30 free nursery hours so none of this makes sense unless she means the universal school meals all kids in reception to year 2 get

Daisymae23 · 04/03/2025 19:16

Scrubberdubber · 04/03/2025 19:14

Even that would be too much income for FSM now. Has to be under 7.4k which even on minimum wage is less than 12 hours.
And then you wouldn't be working enough for 30 free nursery hours so none of this makes sense unless she means the universal school meals all kids in reception to year 2 get

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So 16 hours per week 38 weeks of the year on the old min wage was under the threshold. 16 hours is the minimum you need to work for the 30 hours

Scrubberdubber · 04/03/2025 19:18

Daisymae23 · 04/03/2025 19:16

So 16 hours per week 38 weeks of the year on the old min wage was under the threshold. 16 hours is the minimum you need to work for the 30 hours

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That's fair enough I think because minimum wage has risen even she would probably be earning too much for FSM now. The threshold hasn't risen with inflation

FrannyScraps · 04/03/2025 19:19

Daisymae23 · 04/03/2025 19:16

So 16 hours per week 38 weeks of the year on the old min wage was under the threshold. 16 hours is the minimum you need to work for the 30 hours

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That's over 52 weeks though. The actually threshold is minimum of £183 per week so a total of around £9500 per year.

Staggeredatthisadmission · 04/03/2025 19:38

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FrannyScraps · 04/03/2025 19:39

I haven't reported you anywhere? What are you talking about?

FrannyScraps · 04/03/2025 19:42

Unless you're the poster harassing either who's child is having brain surgery then yes, yes I did and not sorry about it.

Also not bothered about your name calling.

Staggeredatthisadmission · 04/03/2025 22:19

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