USEFUL INFORMATION

Free School Meals

A recent analysis has found that around 11% of pupils who are eligible for free school meals are not claiming them and so are missing out on these, as well as the additional support to which they are entitled. This being so, we wanted to share the information below with parents, so you can check whether your child may be eligible.

The Government says that, “Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:
- younger than the compulsory age for starting school
- in full-time education

Currently all children entitled to free school meals will receive them until the end of the academic year 2025/26. This continues even if your income increases. This is called transitional protection.

From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, it is the Department for Education’s intention that all protections will be discontinued, alongside an extension to the eligibility criteria for free school meals. From this point, households must meet the eligibility criteria to be entitled to free school meals."

Children in EYFS and Key Stage 1 automatically get free school meals but it is still worth applying if you meet the criteria above as you may also get support during the holidays e.g. vouchers, and the school will receive additional funding to support your child’s progress in school.

If you think your child may be entitled to free school meals, Leicestershire County Council have a portal that you can use to apply:

https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children/social-care-and-supporting-families/free-school-meals

At the bottom of the web page above, there are two guides – one on how to set up an account on the portal and another to help with the information you may need.

Leicestershire HolIdays Together

Did you know that children and young people who are receiving free school meals can take part in free holiday clubs this year?

Leicestershire Holidays Together is a free and exciting Department for Education-funded holiday programme for school-aged children and young people who are:

- attending Reception to year 11 (inclusive)
- receiving benefits-related free school meals and
- living in Leicestershire.

Eligible children and young people can access a maximum of 4 Holidays Together sessions during the holidays, free of charge.

For more information on the HAF programme and to book a place please visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/haf

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust

Within Forest Way School, the children’s speech and language therapy service support children and young people to:

- develop their understanding and functional communication skills with the people around them.
- access a communication friendly environment that embeds and promotes speech, language and communication development within a variety of activities across the day.

The children’s speech and language therapy service includes therapists and therapy support workers, who work together to assess and support communication and eating and drinking needs.

They provide evidence-based eating and drinking training for school staff to ensure competence and safety.

For children/ young people on the NHS speech and language therapy caseload, the service may carry out the following interventions:

- Offer direct intervention and support where appropriate for speech sounds, stammering or language development in short blocks of intervention. This will be completed by the therapist or support worker alongside classroom staff and/or family members, to ensure these activities and strategies are embedded across the day.
- Specialist assessment of communication, with associated advice and strategies to support areas of need.
- Assessment and intervention for students with Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) needs. Complete referrals for powered AAC assessments with the specialist Electronic Assistive Technology Service (EATS) or a local provider.
- Assessment and implementation of paper-based AAC, including using symbols to request, communication boards and communication books.
- Specialist mealtime assessments, providing strategies and guidance to maximise safe eating, drinking and swallowing.
- After an episode of care has been completed, children/ young people may be discharged from the NHS caseload. The Communication Support Plan or discharge report will outline when further support from speech and language therapy may be needed again in the future.

Reasons to contact the service about a re-referral could be:

- There are speech and language difficulties, such as a stammer or unclear speech and school staff have identified the child/ young person is now ready to access further support.
- Where a child/ young person has no functional communication skills in place.
- A child/ young person has met their previous targets, and guidance is required to understand the best next steps to further develop their functional communication skills.
- Where there are new or deteriorating eating, drinking or swallowing concerns.

Guidance confirmed November 2025. To be reviewed November 2028.

If you have questions for the Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service, please contact them directly on 0116 2955256, or via the website: Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service

uNIFORM

We do not have a uniform policy at Forest Way School. We understand the constraints of school uniform and the difficulties that arise from pupils having to conform to wearing a particular item of clothing. We advise that pupils wear comfortable and practical clothing and footwear suitable for the variety of activities across school. Our students do particpate in Forest Schools and will need waterproof clothing and footwear, e.g. wellington boots.

ONLINE Learning

BBC Bitesize

BBC have created an online learning experience for children and young people with a website dedicated to providing learning resources and tools for a range of school subjects
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

Phonics

We use phonic sounds to help your child read. There are 42 main sounds of English, not just the alphabet names. The video below goes through all the sounds to enable you to help support your child when reading their favourite story.
https://www.jollylearning.co.uk/resource-bank-old/learn-the-letter-sounds/

NumberBlocks

Numberblocks is a great way for your child to simply press play and have fun while learning essential number skills. 90 episodes take them from number names and counting to a deep understanding of how addition, subtraction, multiplication and division work.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/numberblocks?fbclid=IwAR3shsrgiWSSho1hhEkk2JQ6tVXu wAhv0mmcuumj7YpooKX8KG4sh07ZEfs

Sources of support for you

If you feel like you’re struggling right now, you’re not alone. We’ve gathered contact information for some helplines, so you know where you can turn to if you need some help. Remember, it’s ok not to be ok.

Family Life
Family Lives (support on any aspect of parenting and family life. Freephone) | Call 0808 800 2222 | email askus@familylives.org.uk | familylives.org.uk
SIBS | SIBS is for people who grow up with a brother or sister with special needs, disability, or chronic illness | www.sibs.org.uk

PEGS – Parental Education Growth Support
Child to parent abuse: This is an organisation specifically founded to support parents, carers and guardians who are experiencing domestic abuse at the hands of their children.
All the support for parents is free of charge.
They have a network of parents as well as the PEGS team to support, listen to and stand by parents.
If you feel you need support with this issue you can complete a self-referral form on the website.
The website also provides useful contact details | www.pegsupport.co.uk

Health and Wellbeing
ChatHealth - confidential text service for parents and carers of children aged 0-19 to contact their Public Health (School) Nurse| Text 0752 061 5381 ( If you live in Leicestershire or Rutland) | Text 0752 061 5382 (If you live in Leicester City) | Or start a chat online at chathealth.nhs.uk.
Health for Kids: Grownups - visit their website where you as a parent/carer can find advice on supporting your child's emotional, mental and physical wellbeing | healthforkids.co.uk

If you’re worried about your child:
Young Minds Parents Helpline (free) | Call 0808 802 5544 | https://bit.ly/3p8kpDp

Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass is a unique Police and Education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people exposed to domestic abuse | www.operationencompass.org

Alcohol, drugs and gambling
Drinkline (free) | 0300 123 1110
Drinkchat (calls charged at local and network rates) | 0300 123 1110 | bit.ly/2NoQx7T
Frank (for support around drugs and alcohol. Calls charged at local and network rates)| Call 0300 123 6600 | talktofrank.com
National Gambling Helpline, run by Gamcare (free) | 0808 8020 133 | gamcare.org.uk
Adfam (for families of those affected by drug, alcohol and gambling problems) | find local support on their website: adfam.org.uk
Rehab4Addiction (to assist those affected by substance misuse and their families) | https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/country-wide/drug-alcohol-rehab-leicestershire

Other useful links:

Bamboozle Theatre Company www.bamboozletheatre.co.uk
Contact a Family (CAF) www.cafamily.org.uk
Makaton www.makaton.org
National Autistic Society https://www.autism.org.uk/
Natspec (Association of National Specialist Colleges) www.natspec.org.uk
Parent's Guide to Mealtime with Picky Eaters https://www.additudemag.com/picky-eaters-adhd-parents-guide/

Sources of support for YOUNG PEOPLE - SELF-HELP/GUIDED HELP

ChatHealth
A confidential text service for young people aged between 11-19. Advice given by school nurses from Monday to Friday | Text 0752 061 5387 | Or start a chat online at chathealth.nhs.uk.

Childline
Available any time, online or on the telephone | Call 0800 1111 (free of charge) | www.childline.org.uk

Health for Kids
Explore website where children can find out more about their health and feelings, as well as playing fun and educational games | www.healthforkids.co.uk

Kooth
Online mental wellbeing community / online counselling | https://www.kooth.com

Papyrus
Prevention of young suicide | Call 0800 068 4141 | https://www.papyrus-uk.org/

Rethink Mental Health
Improving the lives of people severely affected by mental illness through a network of local groups and services |
http://www.rethink.org

Samaritans
In the event of a mental health emergency (free) | Call 116 123 | jo@samaritans.org | samaritans.org

Shout
A free text service if you are feeling anxious, worried, stressed or suicidal. There are professionals at the end of the phone offering guidance and support in times of need | Text 85258

YoungMinds
Support for children and young people with mental health issues | https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

For information about apps you can download to your smart phone or tablet to support your mental wellbeing, please see the document attached below.

Support for people with Autism

ChatAutism - Speak with a qualified health professional from our Specialsit Autism Team about: Emotional wellbweing, Healthy lifestyle, Healthy relationships, Drugs, alcohol and smoking, Signposting to advice and support, Assessment and diagnosis advice. ChatAutism is an easy and safe way to get advice and support directly from a qualified health professional by simply texting 07312 277097.

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Autism space - For specialist advice and information about Autism related topics, plus a directory of local support services for Autistic people and their families or carers.

www.leicspart.nhs.uk/autism-space/

Meet the team behind ChatAutism -

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