School Dinners/Packed Lunch?

[Shell]

Karen do you know anything about it, do you have to be earning under a certain amount then b4 they will give you the entitlement?
xx

[NikkiB]

I think you only qualify for free school dinners if you're on benefits don't you?!

[Dancing_Queen]

Originally Posted by NikkiB

I think you only qualify for free school dinners if you're on benefits don't you?!

I remember seeing a letter from the school about it, that you have to be on certain benefits to qualify. I know we don't qualify as we're both working. We get child tax credit, but also get the working tax credit element of it.

Just had a look on the directgov website and found this....

Parents do not have to pay for school lunches if they receive any of the following:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,040
• Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after their employment finishes or after they start to work less than 16 hours per week

Hope that helps.

[Shell]

Hi All,

So what do you put in your childs lunch box? do you think it gets boring having to find different things every day.

Alex tends to stop school dinners once a week and thats about it, dont get much change out of £2. Least with packed lunch I can see how much he's eaten where as I cant keep track on him with having school dinners.

Shell.xx

[Lyn]

Shell
Izzy has
4 crackers with jam on use to give her more but she only ever eats 4.
mini cheddars
2 youghurt sticks (whatever they are called)
box of raisins
and i alternate with biscuits ie custards jammy dodgers animals
she has an apple every day for snack
and i sometimes send a pot of salad and she always has a little fairy cake

so hard for a fussy eater

[Shell]

I think that is a good selection of food though Lyn.
I vary Alex's from Sandwiches to those dairylea dunkers and then will put him some crisps in or quavers.
Yogurt thing like you are on about and then either piece of fruit or salad and a little chocolate bar and a drink.

Are any schools restricted on what you can put in your box? some schools say no chocolate biscuit bars etc.... and no fizzy drinks so I dont send Alex fizzy drinks and think they are not allowed chocolate bars either but will send a biscuit bar he got to have a little bit of what he fancies.

Shell.xx

[Lyn]

shell we arent allowed fizzy drinks but izzy dont have them anyhow. we arent suppose to put in crisps or chocolate but i do or else izzy wont have much in there lol

forgot she sometimes has chocolate spread on crackers instead of jam i so wish she would eat sandwiches or dairylea dunker things but she hates cheese and will only eat toast xx

[Shell]

Alex loves chocolate spread also but can imagine if I sent him to school with that he would look like he had been down a coal mine lol ....... I just think its nice to vary whats in the snack boxes so any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Shell.xx

[NikkiB]

Braden has either a ham or jam sandwich. Hasn't had jam for ages as he always wants ham lately.

Then he has his drink (not fizzy), and one or two yogurt sticks, a Dairylea Tri-Bite (or whatever they're called now, they keep changing the name!), either a Penguin or a Harvest Chewee Bar and a piece of fruit.