To support children and families during the pandemic, Haringey council is providing funding for Free Schools Meals (FSM) to schoolchildren from families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF).
Families with NRPF can access FSM as a result of temporary changes introduced by the government owing to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Families who have a child that attends a Haringey school may benefit from FSM if they fall into one of the following groups:
· they are a Zambrano carer;
· they have the right to remain in the UK under Article 8 of the European Court of Human Rights;
· they receive support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 and are subject to an NRPF condition.
The income threshold for this provision has also recently been revised to £31,500 to allow more families to benefit and has been extended to include the 2020 Autumn Term.
Additionally, families receiving support under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will also be temporarily eligible during this time.
The council is committed to ensuring children with no recourse to public funds continue to receive free school meals even if the temporary measures introduced by the government are withdrawn. No child in a Haringey school will go unfed at lunch time as a result of a lack of funding.
The council is also working with partners, including our schools, to explore opportunities to improve the value and quality of meals and school lunches more generally, to make them healthier and more nutritious – as well as considering options to ensure that they are more sustainable.
Learn more about the government’s latest guidance on Free School Meals (external link).