The Education (Student Support) Regulations 2000

Grants for school meals for dependent children

16.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), where an eligible student is eligible for and entitled to receive a grant under regulation 15(1) in respect of a dependent child, he shall in respect of each academic year also be eligible for a grant for school meals for that dependent child if the child attends a school maintained by a local education authority or a city technology college or a city college for the technology of the arts(1) during the relevant school year.

(2) The amount of grant for which a student shall be eligible under paragraph (1) is—

(a)£245 for each dependent child aged three or over on 31st December in the relevant school year, but under the age of 11 immediately before the beginning of the relevant school year;

(b)£163 for each dependent child whose third birthday falls after 31st December but on or before 31st March in the relevant school year;

(c)£81 for each dependent child whose third birthday falls after 31st March in, but before the end of, the relevant school year;

(d)£265 for each dependant child of compulsory school age who is aged 11 or over immediately before the beginning of the relevant school year.

(3) Paragraph (1) shall not apply where a dependent child receives school meals free of charge under section 512 or 512A of the Education Act 1996(2) or where similar provision is made for him pursuant to an agreement made between the Secretary of State and a person who establishes and maintains a city technology college or a city college for the technology of the arts under section 482 of that Act.

(4) The Secretary of State shall pay a grant for which a student is eligible under this regulation in a single instalment at such time and in such manner as he considers appropriate.

(5) In this regulation “relevant school year” means the school year whose beginning is closest to the beginning of the academic year in respect of which the eligibility for grant under this regulation is being assessed, where “school year” has the meaning given in section 579(1) of the Education Act 1996.