HUNDREDS of York parents are failing to claim up to £300 a year in free school meals for their kids.

City of York Council has teamed up with York and North Yorkshire Primary Care Trust to remind parents that their children could be eligible.

Figures for free school meal uptake in 2006 show 263 secondary school pupils and 252 primary school youngsters missed out on free school meals after their parents failed to claim them.

Barbara Kistasamy, the council's client contracts manager, said at Burnholme Community College only 50 per cent of the children entitled to a free school meal got one.

Free school meals can be claimed by parents who receive:

  • Income support
  • Income-based job-seekers' allowance
  • Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Child tax credit
  • Guarantee element of state pension credit.

Ms Kistasamy said the claiming process is "very straightforward" and all parents have to do is take proof that they are receiving one of the benefits to City of York Council's education reception at Mill House, North Street.

She said: "Parents may not be aware that they could be eligible to claim free school meals.

"It's a simple process, and once completed will mean that their child or children can receive healthy, nutritionally balanced and tasty school meals. York's new school meals are amongst the best in the country and there's no reason for children to miss out or not to eat healthily."

York has used the Government's Targetted School Meals Grant on various school-based initiatives, including a greenhouse, a growing club and a fruit tuck shop at Rufforth Primary School and the creation of a cookery club at Clifton Green Primary School.

Thanks to these initiatives and new government nutritional guidelines for school meals, even more pupils have taken up school meals since the start of the school year.

Information about how to claim free school meals is available at City of York Council libraries, schools and NHS facilities across the city.

City of York Council's Executive member for children's services, Coun Carol Runciman, said: "It is very important that parents take up the offer of free school meals if they are entitled to them.

"This can often make a significant difference to the family and ensure that the children get a good meal each day without the parents having to spend money on it.

"We know that school meals have been steadily improving over the years and recent investments help us to ensure that food is of a high standard.

"I would urge all parents who think they may be entitled to talk to the school and put in an application."

Alternatively, residents can phone the council's school meals team on 01904 554243 or email schoolmealservice@york.gov.uk