Free School Meals - Parkside Community School

Applying For Free School Meals

Please use the online derbyshire application form available on this page

https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education/schools/your-child-at-school/meals/school-meals/free-school-meals.aspx

Why Apply?

A lot of people do not apply for free school meals. At Parkside, we encourage all families to apply regardless of whether they believe they may be eligible or not.

You do not need to worry about other children knowing your child gets free school meals. In secondary schools, only the school and the catering staff will know.

You could potentially save £400 a year for each eligible child and your children could benefit from a good, hot meal at lunchtime.

About the Application Process

We use the Department for Education’s free school meals eligibility checking system, meaning you will receive an instant result notification, and the school will be informed.

To apply, you will be required to register and provide:

your National Insurance Number or National Asylum Support Service Reference Number
your family name
your date of birth
you may also be required to upload a copy of your benefit document

Although access to this protection was due to end on 1 April 2025, the Prime Minister has announced that the protection will continue until the start of the new school year in September 2026. All students who have been eligible on or after 1 April 2018 will remain protected until at least 1 September 2026. The Prime Minister also announced that all families in receipt of universal credit, regardless of earnings, will be eligible for free school meals from 1 September 2026.

In secondary schools only the school and catering staff will know of the free school meal status of your child.

Note: If you’ve moved from outside Derbyshire and received free school meals elsewhere, reapplication is needed.

If you’d like any further support, please contact the free school meals team, email checking@derbyshire.gov.uk or telephone: 01629 536481.