School meals
Cheshire West and Chester Council provides a choice
of fresh and nutritious school lunches every day to over
18,000 pupils in 144 schools.
See a sample of primary school lunch menus (PDF 303KB) and a sample of secondary school lunch menus (PDF 287KB).
How to apply for free school meals
Apply by contacting the School Meals Helpline – 0300 123 7039.
If you apply by phone your entitlement can be confirmed straight away.
You can also use our application form (Word 37KB) which you can fill in on your computer and return to us at enquiries@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Thousands of people are eligible for free school meals but are unaware that they are entitled to them.
If successful, your claim will be processed the same day. A letter of entitlement will be issued to you by the Council.
Claims cannot be backdated. Your claim will be renewed automatically, as they are periodically reviewed.
Do I qualify for free school meals?
You may qualify if you are a parent, guardian or carer and receive one of the following:
- Income Support (IS) or you are a pupil receiving the benefit in your own right
- Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA)
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; or
- Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) that does not exceed £16,190.
- The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
If your circumstances change such as your child changes schools or leaves school, you change your address, you stop receiving any of the above benefits or you commence receiving Working Tax Credit, it’s important that you let us know by contacting the Free School Meals Helpline on 0300 123 7039.