An initiative was launched recently by the Western Education and Library Board in partnership with Advice NI, is aimed at increasing the uptake of Free School Meals and School Uniform Allowances amongst eligible school children across Western Board schools.
Low income families who are unaware of the entitlement will be targeted, or indeed, are unaware of the value of claiming entitlement to Free School Meals and the annual School Uniform Allowance for post primary pupils.
It is estimated that as many as 8,000 children across Northern Ireland are missing out on this entitlement, said a spokeswoman for the Board.
"This could amount to as much as £50 per month for each child, where the parent/guardian fails to come forward to apply for their entitlement to Free School Meals".
The Board accepts that this is a major concern and it is urging parents/guardians to come forward and claim their entitlement.
"It is accepted that a child's capacity to learn is positively impacted by availing of a daily hot meal and, for so many children to be losing out on this entitlement, remains a concern", the WELB spokeswoman added.
FUNDING
"In addition to this, schools are also impacted financially through loss of vital funding to improve the educational outcomes for children. If parents/guardians were to take the step of establishing entitlement to Free School Meals with the Board, this would significantly help their school in terms of additional funding".
It is estimated that, for every child verified as entitled to Free School Meals, this attracts on average, additional funding of £436 per child for individual schools.
Advice NI is the umbrella body for Independent Advice Centres across Northern Ireland. These centres deal with over 213,000 enquiries per year, with the bulk of enquiries being Social Security Benefit-related.
Kevin Higgins, Head of Policy and Research with Advice NI, explaining the potential loss to a target family, took as typical a family with one child of primary school age and one of post primary school age.
"This family would be incurring expenditure unnecessarily to the sum of £90 per month towards the cost of a daily school meal for both children, and a minimum of £70 annually, towards the cost of the school uniform for the post primary child.
"Both the Board and ourselves believe that the vast numbers failing to come forward to apply for their entitlement to Free School Meals and School Uniform Allowances is also contributing to child poverty".
For instance, pupil is entitled to free school meals where he/she or the parent/guardian is in receipt of Income Support or Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance.
There are several other qualifying criteria, all of which can be explained to Parents/Guardians on completion of a simple and single application form for both Free School Meals and School Uniform The completed form should be sent directly to the Free School Meals Section of the WELB, where Officers will undertake to verify entitlement with the relevant authorities where appropriate, on the applicant's behalf.
Information is also available from advice NI by visiting www.adviceni.net.
