UPDATE 28.5.2020

The government have announced that vouchers will be sent to parents during half term.  For parents and carers of Linden Road Academy , this will be up to when we reopen on 8.6.2020.  After this point, vouchers will only be available for those children who are eligible for frees school meals in Years 2, 3, 4 and 5.

UPDATE 8.6.2020

As Linden Road Academy has had to postpone its reopening plans, in line with Tameside Public Heath recommendations, vouchers for all eligible children in every class will continue until the 22.06.2020 at the earliest.

National Voucher Scheme for Free School Meals

The Government has announced how the National Voucher Scheme will work.  The voucher will be worth £15 per pupil eligible for free school meals.  Linden Road will be taking part in this scheme but vouchers will be paid during term time only and will likely start on 20th April.   Vouchers can be sent electronically to your email address and can be scanned from your phone or we can send the voucher out to you by post.

IMPORTANT   Unfortunately those children in FS2, Year 1 and Year 2 that have free school meals through the Government's Universal Free School Meal Scheme are not eligible for this voucher scheme.  The voucher scheme is linked to the following benefits:

Free School Meals

Children are entitled to receive free school meals if they or their parents or guardians receive any of the benefits below.

  • Universal Credit, provided they have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400(£616.67 per month)
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guarantee element of Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit, provided they are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by HMRC
  • Working Tax Credit run-out - paid 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

 

How do I apply for free school meals?

Free School Meals can be claimed by Parents or Guardians of pupil’s who are on a low income. All claims will be processed by your child’s school.

Eligible income includes:

  • Universal Credit, provided they have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400(£616.67 per month)
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guarantee element of Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit, provided they are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by HMRC
  • Working Tax Credit run-on - paid 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

   

I don’t currently claim free school meals – what does this means for me?

If you think you might be eligible for free school meals, submit a claim to your child’s school. Your school should have a form you can use. The Information you provide will be used to check if you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit and, if you are on Universal Credit, that your earnings do not exceed the threshold. If you claim Universal Credit, your earnings will be assessed from up to three of your last Universal Credit assessment periods.

If you are eligible, your child will receive free school meals and the school will receive extra funding