Free School Meals

There is clear evidence that children learn better if they eat properly during the school day. If you believe you may be eligible for FSM for your child, we would urge you to apply and encourage your child to eat a good meal every day. Applications for FSM for all children attending Broadlands Academy are processed by B&NES Council (regardless of whether you are resident in Bristol or B&NES). Although B&NES Council administers the scheme, the government sets FSM eligibility criteria. It is important that you register your child for Free School Meals if you receive any of the eligible benefits. Registering for Free School Meals attracts additional funding for the Academy and may also qualify your child for additional financial support for other activities e.g. Trips.

Please find below the current information regarding Free School Meals provided by B&NES:

Eligibility

Your child is eligible for benefit-related free school meals (and therefore, their school will receive the pupil premium) if they are attending a state school in Bath and North East Somerset, and you are receiving one or more of the following benefits:

  • Universal Credit (if your annual net earned income is £7,400 or less, 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

  • Child Tax Credit, without any Working Tax Credit, and an annual household income of £16,190 or less (as assessed by HMRC - Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs)

  • Four-week run-on Working Tax Credit (paid for four weeks after you STOP qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

  • Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit

  • Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Please note that if you receive Working Tax Credit, your child will not be eligible for benefit-related free school meals (and their school will not receive the pupil premium).

If you have applied for Universal Credit, your child will only become eligible for free school meals when you receive your first Universal Credit payment.

How to apply

Online

This is the quickest, easiest and most environmentally friendly way to apply for free school meals (or register your child's eligibility).

Apply online for free school meals

By phone

Call B&NES on 01225 394317 to make a telephone registration. You will need to supply all of the details in Before you apply, above. If the lines are busy, please leave a message with your telephone number, and they will call you back to complete your registration.

By post

Print and complete this registration form and post it to B&NES at:

People and Communities Finance, Free School Meals, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JG

Next steps

You will hear from B&NES about your child's eligibility within six working days.

If your circumstances change

Please let B&NES know if your circumstances change in any of the following ways:

  • You have an additional child starting school

  • You move house (please also tell the school)

  • You no longer qualify for any of the benefits listed above

If you have any other enquiries, please email freeschoolmeals@bathnes.gov.uk or telephone the free school meals helpline on 01225 39 43 17