Free School Meal Vouchers

Dear Parents,

We have been contacted by many parents enquiring about the Free School Meal (FSM) Vouchers.  To clarify FSM Vouchers are only for children whose parents/carers are eligible for benefits-related free school meals.

If you wish to check if you are eligible for benefits related Free School Meals or if your circumstances have changed during COVID 19, please click on the link below and complete the application form.  The school will issue vouchers when confirmation is received.

https://www.luton.gov.uk/Education_and_learning/Pages/Free-school-meals.aspx

Under the Government's Universal Infant Free School Meal initiative all children attending an Infant School receive a free meal however the Government has chosen to concentrate their effort and resources on those who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals at this time. There is no requirement to continue to provide Universal Infant Free School Meals to pupils in Reception, Year 1, or Year 2 during COVID 19. Only children in those year groups who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals will be supported and will receive a FSM Voucher.

Since 20th April 2020, Government has announced a temporary extension of Free School Meal eligibility to include some children of groups who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF).

These groups are:

• Children of Zambrano carers;
• Children of families with no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights;
• Children of families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction;
• Children of a subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

If you believe you are eligible for FSM Vouchers under the NRFP group, please click on the link below to find out more information and email the school on hillborough.infants.admin@lbc.luton.sch.uk to request an application form.  Please ensure you have read the guidance and can provide the evidence required to verify your entitlement.  

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/guidance-for-the-temporary-extension-of-free-school-meals-eligibility-to-nrpf-groups

We will continue to issue FSM Vouchers through the Government's Scheme administrator, Edenred, however the website is experiencing difficulties due to the large number of schools trying to access the system.  Please be patient and we will issue vouchers as soon as the system allows us to.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Miss Nileema Rahman

Business and Resources Manager

Business and Resources Manager