You're probably on a low income if you get benefits such as tax credits or Employment and Support Allowance. If you're not sure, you can ask staff at your local education authority (LEA).
Your LEA is the local council that deals with education in your area - you can find your LEA on GOV.UK.
You can apply for free school meals if either:
You can apply for free school meals if you either:
You’ll remain eligible for free school meals until 31 March 2023, even if your earnings increase or you stop getting Universal Credit. If your child is getting free school meals on 31 March 2022, they’ll keep getting them until they finish their stage of education, for example primary or secondary.
You can apply for free school meals if you get any of these benefits:
You can apply for free school meals on GOV.UK, or via the Medway Council Website.
Your child will automatically get free school meals if they're in reception class or year 1 or 2.
Even if your child gets free meals, you should tell your local council if you're on a low income and get benefits. You might be able to get other help with school costs - and your child's school might get extra money.
You might be able to apply for free school meals - it depends on your family’s total annual income after tax. You can apply if your total income is less than:
Contact your local council for information about how to apply. You can find your local council on GOV.UK.
If you're on a low income, your local education authority (LEA) might help you with some costs. For example, they might help with the cost of uniforms, computer equipment or learning a musical instrument.
You'll need to ask your LEA what help they can give you. You can find your LEA on GOV.UK.
If your child is at a maintained special school, ask your LEA if they can help pay travel costs so you can visit.
Your child's school can ask you to pay for some activities such as museum or theatre trips. They should tell you if it's a voluntary payment - if you can't afford to pay, they can't stop your child from attending. But the school can cancel the activity if they don't get enough money to pay for it.
Wonderfully made is an orginsiaion based in Medway who can support with the costs of School Uniforms for those in need. More information on this can be found here
If your child is aged 5 to 16, your local education authority (LEA) might help with free or lower cost transport if you don't live near school or your child's unable to walk there.
If your child is older and in a sixth form or is an apprentice, what help they can get depends on where you live. You can find out more about free transport for people over 16 in full-time education or training on GOV.UK.
You'll need to apply to your LEA. You can find your LEA on GOV.UK.
If there's a school nearby that your child could get to more easily, your local education authority doesn't have to pay for travel to and from their school.
If you think your child should get free travel but your local education authority refuses, you can appeal.
You can find out more about appealing on the Child Law Advice website.
If your child can't walk to school because of their special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), they should be entitled to free school transport.
You might also get help if your child can't walk to school because it's dangerous - for example, because they need to cross major roads.
If you're on a low income, your child might get free travel if they go to:
Ask your school's parent teacher association (PTA) if they help parents financially. You'll usually get their contact details from the school office or on the school website.
You can check if there's a charity that can help you with school costs on the Educational Trusts' Forum website.
If you need help understanding the above, call us on 01634 383 760, email us on info@medwayadvice.org.uk, or use our Contact Form.
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