Meals and Snacks

We are following the government guidelines regarding supermarket vouchers for children who are entitled to income-related free school meals for days they are not in school. The School will contact those families directly.

School Meals

Higham Primary School intends to help children develop healthy eating habits and ensure that they get the energy and nutrition they need across the whole school day. It is just as important to cook food that looks good and tastes delicious; to talk to children about what is on offer and recommend dishes; to reduce queuing and to serve the food in a pleasant environment where they can eat with their friends.

What is Ever 6 Free School Meals?

Parents in receipt of certain benefits are entitled to apply for their child to receive free school meals. Once the funding has been agreed, this funding continues for a further 6 years despite any change in circumstance. (Please note that this is current guidelines and can be subject to change in the future).

How does the funding differ to Infant Free School Meals?

Infant free school meals are offered to children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. The Government contributes £2.58 each day to schools for each child to cover the expenses of free school meals whilst your child is in these years only. This entitlement is no longer available once your child enters Year 3 and is in the juniors.

Who qualifies for Ever 6 Free School Meals?

You can apply for free school meals if you or your child receive any of the following:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
Working Tax Credit 'run-on' – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
Universal Credit – (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals

How do I apply for Free school meals?

Free school meals are administered by local authorities. For most of our parents this will be either Kent County Council or Medway Council.

To check which local authority you are with, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals , enter your postcode. This will then show which local authority you need to apply to and provide a link to enable you to apply online.

If you already have one child registered for free school meals, you will still need to make a new application for any siblings. They do not automatically qualify.

Please notify us if you are in receipt of free school meals for your child and please rest assured that schools always keep such information confidential and children in receipt of FSM are not singled out to their peers.

If the school have you registered as Ever 6 Free School meals, we are able to offer additional financial support at certain times during the period your child is at Higham Primary School, this includes contribution towards school trips, residential trips and other school expenses.

Should you have any questions or require any assistance please do not hesitate to contact our Business Manager, Miss Mills in the school office.

School Meal Policy

All school meals must be paid for in advance.
Preferred payment option is via the Bromcom MCAS app. Payments are no longer accepted to the old school bank account.
Meals can be paid for weekly or termly and currently cost £2.75 per day, £13.75 per week. KS2 have the option to purchase a school dessert with their home packed lunch at a cost of 50p- these can be ordered via the class teacher only.
All meals should be pre-ordered via the MCAS app or via morning registration if necessary. If you know your child will be late in due to a medical appointment etc, you must advise the school office of your child’s meal option for that day by 9am, or we will need to offer what is left at the end of service.
We do monitor dinner payments and accounts going into debt and so would encourage parents to stay on top of their child's account. Outstanding payments may result in a 'pause' on your child's account which may result in no further meals being given to your child until the balance has been paid and you will be contacted and asked to provide a packed lunch.