Help us keep the lights on Support us
The Bristol Cable

Children ‘missing out’ on free school meals

Children could be missing out on free school meals because of schools not checking often enough for eligibility, according to Cabot Primary School’s business manager.

Reports

Children could be missing out on free school meals in Bristol because their eligibility is not checked often enough, according to a manager at a local school.

Pupils may qualify for free school meals if their parent or carer receives any of a number of benefits, such as income support or Universal Credit. Chris Pring, business manager at Cabot Primary School in St Pauls, said eligibility checks used to happen weekly but now occur once and “that’s the end of it”. He said schools could check eligibility more regularly but it is a time-consuming process without the right software, which smaller schools do not have.

“I think pupils in Bristol are significantly missing out on potentially being eligible for free school meals because that check isn’t being done on a weekly basis,” he told a meeting of school leaders on Thursday, 13 January. Pring said that with the right software, the check is run weekly “forever and a day” and flags up whenever a child becomes eligible for free school meals. “That software is freely available to purchase outside,” he told members of Bristol Schools Forum. 

“It’s too big really for a small school to purchase, but I know bigger schools who’ve purchased it and are reaping the rewards in the fact that that automatically gets checked on a weekly basis. It will flag up those people who are eligible, whereas at the moment, I believe it’s the case, we put it on the system, it gets checked once and once only, unless the school puts it in again.

“Obviously if you’ve got a number of parents that is time-consuming to put it in on a regular basis when there’s an automated system that can easily do it and is readily available.” Bristol City Council’s education director, Alison Hurley, said she was interested in hearing more about the software from Pring after the meeting. 

Keep the Lights On

Investigative journalism strengthens democracy – it’s a necessity, not a luxury.

The Cable is Bristol’s independent, investigative newsroom. Owned and steered by more than 2,600 members, we produce award-winning journalism that digs deep into what’s happening in Bristol.

We are on a mission to become sustainable – will you help us get there?

Join now

What makes us different?

Comments

Post a comment

Mark if this comment is from the author of the article

By posting a comment you agree to our Comment Policy.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related content

How can schools address the long-term impacts of Covid-19 this academic year?

As kids go back to school this week, schools are considering how to repair the damage of the last 18 months.

The Bristol Briefing: 2,500 pupils in Bristol self-isolating

Infections continue to rise rapidly in Bristol, causing disruption to waste services and schools.

Inside Bristol schools during a new academic year like no other

Struggling to access Covid-19 testing, helping disadvantaged kids catch up, and anxieties about another lockdown: Bristol school leaders speak of the challenges of reopening to a new normal.

Bristol students ‘playing catch up’ to get uni places after A-levels fiasco

The government’s U-turn to award teacher assessed grades came after days of intense stress. In one shocking case, a Bristol school saw 84% of its year 13s’ results downgraded.

Revealed: Thousands of kids are being put in isolation, fuelling schools debate

A Bristol Cable investigation can reveal Bristol schools are sending children to isolation 1,000 times a week, shedding light on the controversial form of discipline where children are removed from class.

Action needed on shocking levels of teacher stress

Teachers' union survey exposes stress crisis in Bristol’s schools, exacerbated by cuts and unsustainable workloads. Could a ‘fair workload charter’ help?

Join our newsletter

Get the essential stories you won’t find anywhere else

Subscribe to the Cable newsletter to get our weekly round-up direct to your inbox every Saturday

Join our newsletter

Subscribe to the Cable newsletter

Get our latest stories & essential Bristol news
sent to your inbox every Saturday morning