Help is Here: Where to find support in Newham

We understand that the current cost of living crisis may be having a negative impact on some students and their families.

Therefore, we want to re-emphasise the in-school support that is available and signpost families to a range of support offered by Newham Council as part of their response.

Free School Meals: You may be eligible for Free School Meals

With many families facing unprecedented financial hardship amid the cost-of-living crisis, we are encouraging parents and carers to apply for Free School Meals.

Did you know? If your child eats a free school meal 5 days a week, you could save your family an average of £132 each term.

Your child may receive free school meals if you receive any of the following benefits:

• 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 guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you're not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Why should you apply?

The local authority asks every family who attends a school in Newham to complete their Free School Meals application form, irrespective of their employment, financial or immigration status.

This means even if you are not in receipt of qualifying benefits when you first apply, Newham can hold your application on file and automatically recheck your entitlement every week.

How to apply:

You can apply for Free School Meals at:

Newham: London – Free School Meals

The online application will take 5 minutes to complete.

Make sure you have your National Insurance number to hand before you fill in the online form.

Newham use your National Insurance number to find out from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) whether or not you qualify for free school meals. Note, the DWP will only tell Newham if you qualify. They will not give Stratford School Academy any information about benefits you may receive or any details regarding your financial income.

Free Breakfast for all students

We believe that young people should start their day with a healthy meal and therefore offer a FREE breakfast to ALL students which is served daily in the canteen from 8.00am.

Did you know? If your child eats a free breakfast 5 days a week, you could save your family an average of £60 each term.

All students can choose from a range of different cereals, porridge or a bagel.

Students do not need to be eligible for free school meals to receive a FREE breakfast.

• Bagels - toasted and with butter

• Cereals - choose from a range of popular cereals

• Porridge - includes toppings such as honey, cinnamon, raisins and seeds (you can add as much as you like!)

Additional breakfast option for Free School Meals Students:

Students in receipt of Free School Meals are also entitled to a range of FREE cooked breakfast items.

Please ask your child to enquire at the school canteen for more information.

Homework club

A supervised Homework Club runs daily from 3.00pm-4.00pm on both sites and offers a warm environment for students to read, study and access computers to complete any online homework.

Purchasing school equipment or uniform

Contact us If you are experiencing financial challenges that are impacting on your child’s schooling, for example, purchasing school equipment or uniform, please contact your child’s Form Tutor or Head of House, alternatively email:

stratford@stratfordschoolacademy.org

Support from Newham Council

Since Newham’s Cost of Living Response launched in September 2022 a package of dedicated support measures have been delivered to over 300,000 residents in Newham. If you would like to view the support available, please visit:

Newham London: Cost of Living Crisis Response