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Lunch Time

Free School Meals

If you have a child attending a Sheffield school or maintained nursery, you may be entitled to free school meals if you receive any of these benefits:

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  • 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 Support Allowance

  • support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

  • the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit

  • Child Tax Credit as long as you have a yearly household income of less than £16,190 (as assessed by HM Revenue and Customs) and do not get Working Tax Credit

  • Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

 

If you are over 18 and still attend school your free school meals will continue. If you are unsure about your eligibility please contact us. 0114 273 4567 Option 4, then option 3

 

Pupils protected from losing free school meals

The following pupils will be protected against losing their free school meals: 

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  • from 1 April 2018, all existing free school meals claimants will continue to receive free school meals whilst Universal Credit is rolled out. This will apply even if their earnings rise above the new threshold during that time

  • in addition, any child gaining eligibility for free school meals after 1 April 2018 will be protected against losing free school meals during the Universal Credit rollout period

  • once Universal Credit is fully rolled out, any existing claimants that no longer meet the eligibility criteria at that point (because they are earning above the threshold or are no longer a recipient of Universal Credit) will continue to receive free school meals until the end of their current phase of education (ie primary or secondary)

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Infant free school meals

If your child attends a state funded infant school and is in Key Stage 1 (reception, year 1 or year 2), they are entitled to ‘universal infant free school meals’ regardless of your income. You can contact your child’s school and tell them you would like to have ‘universal infant free school meals’.

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Extra funding to support your child's education

If you apply for free school meals and you are successful:

  • your child’s school gets up to £1345 additional funding (Pupil Premium)

  • your child’s early years education provider gets up to £302 additional funding (Early Years Pupil Premium)

This funding is to support your child's education and can help to buy new equipment and resources.

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More Information: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/schools-childcare/school-meals

Walking to the Bus

Help with Travel Costs

Your child may be eligible for free school travel if you meet certain conditions.

 
Who can apply

Children between the age of  5 and 16 (Reception to Y11) may qualify for free school travel support if they go to their nearest available qualifying school in Sheffield and live at least:

  • 2 miles or more, if they're 5 to 7 years old

  • 3 miles or more if they're 8 to 16 years old

If you get the maximum Working Tax Credit or your children are entitled to Free School Meals, they'll get free school travel support if they are:

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  • aged 8 to 11 and travel 2 miles or more to their nearest available school

  • aged 11 to 16 and travel between 2 and 6 miles to their school, (as long as there are not 3 or more nearer available schools)

  • aged 11 to 16 and travel between 2 and 15 miles to their nearest available school if the parent chose the school on the grounds of religion, belief

  • aged 13 to 16 and attending a Sheffield-based University Technical College (UTC), if the UTC is two miles or more from their permanent home address

 

or

  • the child has Special Education Needs (SEN)

  • the child has an Education, Healthcare and Care plan (EHC)

  • the child is in foster care

 
Apply for or renew a Children's Travel Pass

You can apply for a new pass or renew an existing one here. It may take up to 28 days to process your application.

Please do not send in photographs using filters, such as Snapchat and Instagram images.

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All applicants

You must be the person with parental responsibility for the child and you will need:

  • a recent ID photo of the child

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Low income applicants only

You must be the person with parental responsibility for the child and in receipt of:

Maximum Working Tax Credits:

you will need a scan or photo of your award letter

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Or

one of the following Free School Meal qualifying benefits - you will need your National Insurance number, or NASS number:

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  • 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 guaranteed 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 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

  • Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

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For more information: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/travel-transport/zero-fare-travel

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