Forest gate community school 18

Family Support

Family Support Practitioner

Our Family Support Practitioner is Victoria Randell. She works to support children and their families to get the most from the educational opportunities on offer.

Victoria Randell
Family Support Practitioner

Telephone: 020 8534 8666 ext 118

If you’re feeling worried, concerned or just need a bit of advice, I’m ready to help you find solutions.

My role involves:

  • Acting as a link between home and school
  • Listening to you; advocating
  • Offering practical suggestions and advice
  • Going to meetings with you
  • Promoting regular attendance
  • Arranging adult learning courses
  • Facilitating a parent drop in

I can help with information and advice on:

  • Fitting in at school
  • Housing and money worries
  • Sign posting to relevant agencies
  • Benefits and support
  • Entitlement to free school meals
  • Supporting your child’s learning
  • Getting to school on time
  • Health issues and family support
  • Behaviour in school
  • Courses, training and volunteering
  • Bereavement

Free School Meals

To qualify for free schools meals, you must complete the online application form on the Newham website:

Apply for free school meals

If you have any problems completing the online form, please contact me at the school and I will be happy to complete the form with you.

Who is entitled to free school meals?

Parents do not have to pay for school lunches if they receive 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
  • Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit
  • The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
  • Have an annual household income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190 (as at April 2012)
  • Universal Credit

Your child is not entitled to free school meals if you receive

  • Working Tax Credit

Children who get any of the above benefits in their own right (i.e. they get benefits payments directly, instead of through a parent or guardian) can also get free school meals.