PARENTS not knowing if their children qualify for free school meals is one of the reasons suggested for the low uptake in Nottingham.

There are five criteria used to judge if pupils are entitled to the free meals.

Pupils can claim them if their parents receive any of the following:

Income support

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.

Support under part four of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income not above £15,575.

The guarantee element of State Pension Credit.

Children who receive Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance themselves also qualify.