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Free School Meals

If you meet the eligibility criteria for free school meals, you will need to apply through West Sussex County Council. If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please refer to the WSCC website for further information.

If your child is entitled to Free School Meals (FSM), they will still need to create a meal account as part of the cashless payment system, as explained on the school lunches page. Once the account is set up, their daily FSM allowance £3.20 (from 01/09/2026) will be available to spend each day. Please note: this allowance does not appear on the student’s visible account balance.

The system operates in the same way as for other students, but any unspent allowance does not carry over to the following day.

Parents and carers may choose to “top up” the account if they wish to enable their child to make additional purchases beyond the free meal allowance.

Free school meals are available at Holy Trinity School if you receive any of these benefits:

  • Income Support.
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
  • Support from National Asylum Support Service (NASS) under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
  • The Guaranteed element of state Pension Credit.
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more £16,190).
  • Working Tax Credit run-on.
  • Universal Credit.
Apply now

Applying for Free School Meals After Moving to West Sussex

If your child is transferring from a school outside the West Sussex County Council catchment area and already receives Free School Meals, you will need to reapply through West Sussex County Council. Please complete this form to help us transfer their entitlement smoothly.

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Free School Meal holiday vouchers – important update

  • Government funding that paid for FSM holiday vouchers ended on 31 March 2026.
  • The Easter 2026 vouchers were the last universal FSM holiday vouchers.
  • From now on, holiday vouchers will not be automatically given to all FSM children.

Families who are struggling financially can still get help, but support is now needs‑based.

If you need support with food or other essential costs, please contact the West Sussex Community Hub.

We understand this update may be concerning, so we have put together a short FAQ list to help answer some of the most common questions.

Commonly Asked Questions:

Why are FSM holiday vouchers stopping?

  • The Government fund that paid for them (Household Support Fund) ended on 31 March 2026
  • The Easter 2026 vouchers were the last universal FSM holiday vouchers.

Does this mean no help is available?

❌ No – help is still available.
✅ But support is now needs‑based, not automatic.

Who can get help now?

You can ask for support if you are:

  • Struggling to afford food.
  • Experiencing financial difficulty.
  • Facing unexpected costs or loss of income.

What kind of help might be available?

Support may include:

  • Help with urgent costs, including food.
  • Advice about benefits, budgeting or debt.
  • Support from local services.

Each family is assessed individually.

How do I apply for help?

Contact the West Sussex Community Hub.

They will:

  • Talk to you about your situation.
  • Explain what help you may be able to get.
  • Help you access the right support.

📞 Phone: 0330 222 7980
🕘 Open: 9:00am – 5:00pm, 7 days a week. Bank Holidays: 10:00am – 2:00pm