School meals

Apply for free school meals

You can claim for free school meals for your child if you are a parent or carer in receipt of one of the following -

• income support
• jobseekers allowance (income based)
• child tax credit (but not working tax credit) with an annual income of £16,190 or less
• income related employment and support allowance (ESA – IR)
• guaranteed element of state pension credit
• asylum seekers (supported by the National Asylum Support Service)

The child must be attending a Hull school on a full time basis up to the age of 16 (or be attending a sixth form school). If your child is attending an East Riding school, you should apply to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council for free school meals.

How to apply

To apply for free school meals, download and complete the form below. The form should be completed by the parent or carer who receives the qualifying benefit.

Forms are also available from all customer service centres and schools in Hull.

Find your nearest customer service centre

After filling in the form -

• you can post it to the specialist team
• some schools will check your form then send the form back themselves - please ask your school
• customer service centres will check your form and then send the form onto the specialist team

There is no need to re-apply because we will undertake checks on your behalf. So free meals will continue to be available to your children throughout their school life unless your benefits stop or your asylum status changes. If this happens we will write to you to let you know when your children will no longer be eligible for free school meals.

Primary school meals menu

Primary school children receive a nutritious meal consisting of a main course, pudding and a drink.

Access the primary schools menu

Costs of a school meal

The cost of a meal for those children who are not eligible to receive a free meal is £1.30. Secondary school children can choose from a range of healthy food and drink items which are individually priced. Secondary school children who qualify for free school meals can spend up to the value of £1.90 per meal.

The benefits

• school meals offer a daily selection of freshly cooked main meals and desserts, fresh fruit or yoghurt and salads
• all meals are nutritionally balanced over the course of one week. Menus are produced in consultation with qualified dieticians and are served by helpful and understanding catering staff
• children can sit down and enjoy their meal while at the same time developing those social skills of eating together that are so important in later life
• a well-fed and happy child is more likely to be receptive to participating in the afternoon's  activities
• each meal aims to provide 35 per cent of all essential nutritional requirements that will assist your child in leading a bright and healthy lifestyle
• someone else prepares and cooks lunch for your child, which saves you worrying about a packed meal every day

If you would like any further information or would like to make any comments on your child's school meals service please contact us on 01482 300 300 or email hull.catering@hullcc.gov.uk

Contact us

The specialist team
Hull City Council
Freepost RSJC-KKBE-ABXZ
Hull City Council Revenues and Benefits Service
PO Box 15
Hull
HU1 2AB

Tel: 01482 300 300
Text phone: 01482 300 349
Email: hull.catering@hullcc.gov.uk

Or you can call in at any customer service centre.