This in part is as a result of the current COVID-19 virus and the effect it is having on some household incomes. Can you please advise parents that where they have had to make an application for Universal Credit for the first time, they should make an application for Free School Meals? If they are already in receipt of a Free School Meal and their income has changed they do not need to apply again, these children are on your school’s Bradford Schools on Line list. If a pupil is in school because their parent is a key worker and they do not ordinarily get a free school meal, then they should not be applying for one.

The team processing the applications are working to get them dealt with as quickly as possible under the current circumstances