Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Free school meals guidance

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Government are temporarily extending free school meals eligibility to include some groups who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF), including:

• children of Zambrano carers
• children of families with no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
• children of families receiving support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction

These groups are also subject to a maximum household earnings threshold of £7,400 per annum.

The Government is also temporarily extending free school meal eligibility to children of a subset of failed asylum seekers supported under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

This group is not subject to any maximum household earnings threshold.

This extension is temporarily in place due to the current unique circumstances. It covers both children who are attending school and children who are at home.

See guidance for the temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups for more information.

Please find an application form on our Coronavirus page which should ONLY be used for applicants who may now qualify for the Coronavirus (Covid19) temporary extension of free school meals eligibility (as above).  Please ensure that all sections of the form are completed so that the Local Authority can make an assessment of eligibility.