Wiltshire families urged to claims free school meals to ensure 'best start' in life

Free school meals can save families up to £350 a year, Wiltshire Council says

Families are being encouraged to access healthy free school lunches and to check whether their children remain eligible in Year 3 and above.

Wiltshire Council said the initiative can help families to save more than £350 per year.

By law, all infant school children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to free school meals.

Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Laura Mayes, said: "Free school meals ensure that all children benefit.

"It also provides schools with additional funding to support children from lower-income families to achieve their full potential."

Year 3 to Year 6 pupils from households in receipt of eligible benefits are also entitled to free lunches under existing government rules.

Families need to inform schools whether they want their child or children to continue to have them.

'This really helps schools'

"If children are eligible to continue to receive free school meals [from Year 3], their school will also continue to receive the premium of either £985 or £1,385 extra per eligible pupil," Ms Mayes said.

"This really helps schools to ensure all children have the very best start in life."

Free school meal applications for all primary schools are managed by Wiltshire Council. But the authority said a small number of secondary schools managed their own applications and would advise parents of the process.

These schools are:

• Bishop Wordsorth's Grammar School

• Bradon Forest School

• Salisbury 6th Form College

• South Wiltshire Grammar School for Girls

• St John's School Marlborough

Registering for free school meals is confidential, no-one will know a family has registered and it does not affect any other benefits.