Free School Meals

 

Since the introduction in 2014 of the Government’s Universal Free School Meals initiative, all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children have been entitled to a free meal at lunchtime.

 

However, if you are eligible, there are still advantages for officially registering for Free School Meals regardless of which year your child is in. If parents register for Free School Meals for their child, the school is able to claim ‘Pupil Premium’ which helps us to provide additional support for them. It is really important that parents who meet the criteria (detailed below) register for Free School Meals and thereby Pupil Premium, to help our school secure this additional funding. This funding may also help you gain access to extra-curricular activities by reducing fees for after school clubs and/or school trips.

 

Under the current regulations you may be entitled to register for Free School Meals/Pupil Premium if you are in receipt of:

 

• 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 Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income of £16,190 or less
• Working Tax Credit ‘run-on’ – the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit – In England, if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get). If your child is currently eligible for free school meals, they’ll remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they’re in on 31 March 2022.

 

The school really needs your help to receive this additional funding. If after having read the criteria above you feel you are eligible, please contact the office (in confidence) to register them. Alternatively, there is a new online service, where you can check your own eligibility for free school meals, or you can check on behalf of someone else.

• To complete a check you will need the following information for yourself, or the person you are checking on behalf of:
• Name, home address and email address;
• National Insurance Number or National Asylum Support Service reference number;
• Child’s name, date of birth and school

Even if you do not wish for your child to have a free school meal, registering them will enable the school to claim pupil premium funding that will benefit your child.