Free School Meals are available for school aged children who are attending a school, regardless of whether they live in Luton or not, whose parent/guardian is in receipt of a qualifying benefit. Only children attending school for at least one session before and one session after lunch can receive Free School Meals.

In the majority of cases if your child is entitled to receive Free School Meals they will also be entitled to receive the Uniform Grant providing they meet the following criteria: -

School Uniform Vouchers (Uniform Grant) are available for children four years and above, until statutory school age, for children who live in Luton regardless of what school they attend. This, however, does not apply to children attending a Luton school but lives out of the Borough.

NB: - If a child lives in Luton, but is attending a school outside of Luton, they should apply for Free School Meals to the local authority in which that school is situated.

Qualifying Benefits

In order to qualify to receive Free School Meals and the Uniform Grant, the parent/legal guardian must receive at least one of the following benefits: -

• Income based Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Income based Job Seekers Allowance
• Pension Credit
• NASS – Supported under part VI of the immigration and Asylum act 1999
• Child Tax Credit - providing that you DO NOT receive Working Tax Credit and your income must be less than £16,190, shown on the TC602(a)Tax Credit letter.

IMPORTANT:  If you receive Working Tax Credit and Child tax Credit, you are NOT entitled to receive Free School Meals or the Uniform Grant, even if you are on a low income.

The Education Welfare Service is able to access the main government database to check if you are eligible for free school meals using your national insurance number.

Please call 01582 548174 to confirm your eligibility

How do I access these benefits?To apply for Free School meals and the Uniform Grant please attend: 

Unity House, 111 Stuart Street, Luton LU1 5NP between the hours of 9am - 11am Monday to Friday with the following documents: -

One document must be shown from each section A, B, C and D: -Children who receive Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance are entitled to claim for Free School Meals and the Uniform Grant, in their own right, if they attend a main stream school in Luton.

A. Proof of date of birth of parent/legal guardian

• Driving licence
• Passport
• Original Birth Certificate (photocopies are not acceptable)

B. Proof of date of birth of the child (per child)

• Original Birth certificate (photocopies are not acceptable)
• Passport

C. Proof of child residing with parent/legal guardian

• Child benefit letter* – showing name of child/children
  
  * The Child benefit letter must be dated within the last 12 months and show the parents current address.

D.  Proof of National Insurance Number

• Official document showing National Insurance Number
• National Insurance Card