The Government recognises the benefits of providing a healthy meal to students eligible for free school meals and as a Trust we are committed to ensuring that students are able to choose from a range of nutritious options. 

If your child is entitled to a free school meal,  we will provide them a healthy meal that they can have at lunchtime and they can choose one of the following options: -

• Lunch Main Meal of the Day, either option 
• Jacket Potato with topping 
• Hot Sandwich of the Day 
• Hot Pasta Pot of the day 
• Sandwich/wrap (codes AA – C) or Salad or Cold Pasta Pot

In addition to the above, they can also choose one of the following:

• Dessert of the Day 
• Yoghurt 
• Fruit 
• Whites Bakery Item (cookie, muffin etc.) 
• Drink 
• Crisps 

Where pupils are eligible for free school meals and are receiving remote education, the school catering team will provide a good quality lunch parcel in lieu of the above. 

If you child is eligible for free school meals and would like to purchase additional items, please ensure that their ParentPay meal account is in credit. 

If you have any questions regarding catering, please email retcatering@ridgewayeducation.com

Is my child eligible?

Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
• Income Support • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credi

In addition, the following pupils will be protected against losing their free school meals:

• Since 1 April 2018, all existing free school meals claimants have continued to receive free school meals whilst Universal Credit is rolled out. This applies regardless of any change in household circumstances, including if their earnings rise above the threshold during that time. Protections will remain in place until the end of the 2025/26 school year.
• From the start of the 2026/27 school year, the Department for Education will extend entitlement to free school meals to include all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit. The DfE intend to end transitional protections alongside this change in threshold, with eligibility for all pupils reverting to whether they meet the eligibility criteria, regardless of whether they were previously protected. We will issue further guidance ahead of September 2026.

A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal when a claim for the meal has been made on their behalf and their eligibility, or protected status, has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority.

How to apply

If you believe you are eligible and haven’t already done so, please complete the Application Free School Meals Form which will enable us then to run a check to confirm entitlement.

When to apply

You should apply when you first start to receive benefit as claims are not backdated. Your eligibility will be reviewed on occasion. You should notify the school immediately if any changes occur to your benefits.  Please contact Reception for more information by phoning 01235 814444 or email reception@st-birinus.oxon.sch.uk.