Free School Meals

We are proud to provide our pupils with high-quality, freshly prepared, and nutritious hot meals, thanks to our dedicated in-house catering team, supported by the Brooke Weston Trust.

Meal Ordering & Payment

• Parents and carers can pre-book and pre-pay for school meals using the secure ParentPay system.
• Please note: All meals must be ordered by 12 midnight every Thursday for the following week.

ParentPay - Leading Cashless Payment System for Schools

Packed Lunches

If you choose to send your child with a packed lunch, please remember:

We are a NUT-FREE school.

To keep all children safe, especially those with allergies, no nut products should be included in packed lunches.
 

Free School Meals – Information & How to Apply

At our school, we believe every child deserves a nutritious meal to help them learn and thrive. Here’s everything you need to know about Free School Meals (FSM) and how to apply.

Who Gets Free School Meals?

All children in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 automatically receive free meals under the Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme — no application needed!

For children in Year 3 and above, you may be eligible for free school meals if you receive certain benefits.

Eligibility Criteria

Your child may qualify for free school meals if you receive any of the following:

• Universal Credit (with a net annual income of £7,400 or less, excluding benefits)

• 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

• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying)

• Child Tax Credit (without Working Tax Credit) and an annual income of £16,190 or less

Children in Care or with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Children in care or with SEN do not automatically qualify for free school meals. FSM is a means-tested scheme, so families must meet the eligibility criteria above.

Please note: Children living in local authority care homes are not eligible, as their meals are already funded by the government.

How to Apply

You can apply online by clicking the link below:

Free school meals application - Introduction - Customer Portal

Once submitted:

• Your application will be reviewed by the County Council’s Free School Meals team.

• The school will be notified within three working days if your application is approved.

• You’ll then be informed how to order and access your child’s meals.

What Does the School Receive?

For every eligible child, the school receives £2.30 per meal to cover the cost of providing a nutritious lunch.

What If My Circumstances Change?

Please inform Northamptonshire County Council if:

• You stop receiving a qualifying benefit

• You change your address or contact details

Email: freeschoolmeals@childrenfirstnorthamptonshire.co.uk

Why Register?

Even if your child prefers packed lunches, registering for free school meals could help the school receive additional Pupil Premium funding. This extra support can be used for:

• One-to-one tuition

• Additional teaching staff

• After-school clubs and activities

If you need help checking your eligibility or completing the application, please don’t hesitate to contact the Free School Meals team:

freeschoolmeals@childrenfirstnorthamptonshire.co.uk