Free school meals for children not attending school
Elective Home Education (EHE)
Elective Home Education (EHE) is when a parent chooses not to send their child to school full-time and takes responsibility for making sure their child receives a full-time education other than at school.
There is no entitlement to free school meals for children who are electively home educated.
Please contact the EHE team, by emailing cmeandehe@warwickshire.gov.uk or calling 01926 736323, to discuss wider support available.
Education other than at school (EOTAS)
Education other than at school (EOTAS) is education provision for children and young people who are unable to access a mainstream or special school.
If a child receives an EOTAS package of support as part of their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), they may be entitled to free school meals if they meet both elements of the following criteria:
- The child would meet the benefits-related criteria for free school meals if they were in a state-funded school.
- The meals would be provided in conjunction with education and would, in line with the aim of free school meal provision, be for the purpose of enabling the child to benefit fully from the education being provided.
The local authority will assess the individual circumstances of the child to decide whether and how such a provision should be made. This is usually in the form of Huggg food vouchers issued termly which can be redeemed in a range of supermarkets.
Please email sen@warwickshire.gov.uk for further information and to find out if your child is eligible for this support.
Children Missing Education (CME)
Children of compulsory school age who are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education other than at school are Children Missing Education (CME).
There is a plan in place for Children Missing Education to access a school place. Therefore, once children have a school place, they will receive free school meals.
Please contact the CME team, by emailing cmeandehe@warwickshire.gov.uk or calling 01926 736323, to discuss wider support available.
Alternative Provision (AP)
The Alternative Provision provider is responsible for providing free school meals where Alternative Provision (AP) is arranged by local authorities for pupils who because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not otherwise receive suitable education. The Alternative Provision provider should either provide a meal on site, or provide vouchers or funding to cover the cost of a meal. Parents should discuss this directly with the provider, or their plan coordinator if they have an EHCP.
Where Alternative Provision is arranged by schools for pupils on a fixed period of exclusion, and pupils being directed by schools to off-site provision to improve their behaviour, it is the responsibility of the school where the child is on school role to provide free school meals. The school should either provide a meal on site, or provide vouchers or funding to cover the cost of a meal. Parents should discuss this directly with the school where their child is on role.
Flexible Learning
Flexible Learning is off-site learning for students who are unable to learn at school.
It is the responsibility of the school where the child is on role to provide the free school meal, either by providing a meal on site, or providing vouchers or funding to cover the cost of a meal.
Parents should contact the school where the child is on role if they have any queries.