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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Free school meals for reception child short fall

53 replies

Lilacbluewaters · 19/01/2024 15:32

My daughter has free school meals she is in reception but I’m still having to pay a short fall each week. Is this normal? Is it not fully covered?
also she has a piece of toast every morning at snack time which is £3 a week. I am on universal credit and struggling atm to make ends meet and thinking £3 a week for 5 slices of toast is extortionate.
is this the norm though?

OP posts:

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2xp · 22/01/2024 12:35

I just checked my prices again (early drop off from 7.30a is £5/day with breakfast and the afterschool to 17.45 is £9/day with a £2/tea extra) ... £82.50/wk it seems :/

Between this and £1500/mo for my 3yo, it's getting crazy expensive.

prh47bridge · 22/01/2024 20:31

Iamnotthe1 · 19/01/2024 16:58

The free school meal funding per child does not cover the cost that the school is charged for the meal (assuming they, like most schools, use a catering company). Most schools just absorb the shortfall and pay it themselves but, in theory, they could ask for this to be covered. If your child is eligable for pupil premium rather than just the general Reception and KS1 free school meals, they should be using some of this to cover it.

Milk and fruit is available in schools for free but if your child wants things other than this then the school can charge for them. They should, however, be able to show the breakdown of the cost (including materials, electricity, staff cost, etc.) as they should not be making a profit from it, just covering costs. 60p per slice of toast seems high for this unless very few pupils actually taken them up on it.

No, schools may not ask for any shortfall to be covered. If the child is entitled to free school meals, they must be free. That is the law. Any school that attempts to charge parents for FSM is acting illegally.

@Lilacbluewaters - You need to talk to the school and establish exactly what you are paying for and whether this is voluntary. If they are charging you for a shortfall in FSM funding, you must challenge that. They are not allowed to charge you for FSM.

ikuy · 22/01/2024 22:11

I've noticed parent pay puts all clubs/lunches as a payment that needs paying. Is it possible that's what's happening to you and you're not actually expected to pay? I think you should speak to the school. We never had to top up lunch money when DC were on free school meals (it's up to yr2 for everyone regardless of financials).

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