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Financial Support

Please contact the relevant Student Support Manager, or Director of Learning, regarding any financial difficulties with the purchase of resources, trips or uniform. We recognise the varied financial pressures on families and support may be available.

CHANGES TO FREE SCHOOL MEALS

A Quick Link for Online Applications

All applications for Free School Meals must be processed through Kent County Council. You can apply online here.

Contact Information

If you require any help or support, contact the KCC Free School Meals team directly or reach out to our school for more information: 

What is Changing?

Under the Government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, eligibility for free school meals is expanding to include all children whose families receive Universal Credit. While this change means many more families will now qualify, there are also important updates to how existing claims are reviewed and protected.

There will now be two distinct categories of benefits-based Free School Meals:

  • Expanded Free School Meals (FSM): This new category applies to all pupils whose families receive Universal Credit but have annual household earnings above £7,400. Eligible pupils will receive free school meals but will not qualify for the additional benefits associated with Targeted FSM.

  • Targeted Free School Meals (FSM): This category continues to apply to pupils whose families receive Universal Credit and have annual household earnings of £7,400 or less. In addition to free school meals, eligible pupils also unlock vital Pupil Premium funding (up to £1,550) for the school to support their education, as well as linked benefits like the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme.

End of Transitional Protections and Annual Checks

Since April 2018, families receiving free school meals had their entitlement protected, meaning they continued to receive them even if their family's circumstances changed. This protection will finish on 31 August 2026, at the end of the current school year.

Moving forward, Kent County Council (KCC) will carry out annual eligibility checks between June and September for all pupils receiving free school meals to confirm whether households continue to meet the qualifying criteria.

Do You Need to Take Action?

Your required steps depend on your family's current circumstances:

  • Existing KCC FSM Recipients: You do not need to reapply if you already successfully applied through the KCC Online Checking System and have an application number. KCC will automatically recheck your eligibility between 1 June and September 2026 in a phased approach, and they will contact you directly if your entitlement changes.

  • Newly Eligible Families: Because the criteria have broadened to include all families receiving Universal Credit, many more households will now qualify. We strongly urge you to submit an online application as early as possible so your child receives meals starting in September.

  • Children Joining from Outside Kent: If your child joined us from a school outside Kent or from a school that used a different checking service, your records will not appear on KCC's system. You must therefore submit a new application through Kent County Council starting 1 June 2026 to guarantee your child receives meals in September.

All applications for Free School Meals must be processed through Kent County Council. You can apply online here.

 

The following information summarises some other key information on financial support:

Broadband Packages

Social tariffs are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. Further information can be found here.

Cost of Living Government Support

This government website offers more information about what support is available.

Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF)

The Government has announced a new Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), which is replacing the Household Support Fund. The CRF will provide one-off support to individuals and families experiencing a financial crisis and aims to help build longer-term resilience. Kent County Council is currently finalising how the CRF will operate locally. The fund is intended to complement existing support, including the HAF Programme, rather than replace it. Further information will be provided on the Kent County Council website once arrangements are confirmed.

Food Banks

Click here for a map showing the location of food banks in the borough of Ashford. 

Food or Energy in a Crisis

If your child is not currently eligible for FSM or you are waiting for a benefit application to be approved and need food and supplies urgently, please contact Kent support and Assistant services.

Free School Meals

Further information on eligibility for Free School Meals can be found here. 

Holiday Activities and Food Programme

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme offers families of children aged 4 to 16, who are eligible for benefits related free school meals (FSM), opportunities to access a range of free activities in the Easter, summer, and Christmas holidays. The programme runs for one week at Easter, four weeks over the summer and one week at Christmas. Click here for further information.

KCC Cost of Living Support Page

Kent County Council has a page with some cost of living support links: https://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/cost-of-living-support.

Pupil Premium

Information regarding Pupil Premium can be found here.

Summer Savings

This website explains summer savings introduced by the government:

  1. VAT cut on children’s days out. Reducing VAT from 20% to 5% to reduce the cost of children’s restaurant meals, children’s tickets for theatres and cinemas and all tickets for attractions like soft play, amusement parks, and museums. That means lower prices at the till, automatically.

  2. Free bus travel for children. Free travel on local bus services in August. Children aged 5-15 travelling on local bus services in England can travel free in August. 

Kellogg's Breakfast at Morrisons Cafés

Families visiting their local Morrisons Café throughout the summer holidays can enjoy a free ‘Kellogg’s Breakfast’, which includes a bowl of cereal and a portion of fruit. The best part, it’s not just for kids, adults get to eat completely free too.

Both kids and adults can choose from much-loved favourites Corn Flakes or Rice Krispies, topped with their choice of dairy or non-dairy milk and a free apple or banana. The summer holiday offer will be available from 29th June to 6th September across all Morrisons Cafes nationwide.

Transport

More information about school Travel can be found here. Financial help is available for low income families for school transport if certain criteria are met. 

Uniform 

Many parents/carers donate branded and generic uniform to the Friends of Highworth and they run uniform stalls at events such as the Festive Fair in November. The second hand uniform is also available at the school Reception and can be purchased by speaking to the Receptionist.

Support may be available from the school to purchase uniform. Please discuss this with your Director of Learning or Student Support Manager.

16-19 Bursary Fund

The 16 to 19 Bursary provides financial support to help students overcome specific barriers to participation so they can remain in education. Further information can be found here.

Useful Links