Free School Meals
The government allocates an amount of money (Pupil Premium funding) to schools to provide curriculum enhancements, opportunities and support for children, who due to financial constraints, may not otherwise be able to access such experiences.
The amount of funding given to the school is based on the number of children who are entitled to free school meals due to the benefits their families are entitled to. The school can only claim the money though, if parents tell us they are eligible. The child does not have to have the meal they just need to be eligible.
We suspect that many children are missing out on this funding, especially in KS1 (where every child receives a free school meal irrespective of finances), because parents haven’t declared their eligibility. This is such a shame as the funding helps pay for trips, learning support, specialist provision and curriculum enhancements.
Please take a few minutes to look into whether your child could be benefiting from this additional funding. It is an entitlement - your children deserve the best. Every penny of pupil premium funding we claim makes a huge difference to the package of support and enhancements we can offer. To check your eligibility and apply please visit: https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals
If you would like some help in completing the application please contact the school office who will make an appointment for you with one of our team. It is a quick process and your information and eligibility is completely confidential.
Children qualify for free school meals – and accordingly pupil premium – if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Universal credit (provided you have a net income of £7400 or less)
- Income support
- Income-based jobseekers’ allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of state pension credit
- Child tax credit, provided that you are not also entitled to working tax credit and have an annual gross income of £16,190 or less
These benefits have now been rolled into a single benefit, called Universal Credit.
Universal Credit is being rolled out, with an expected completion date of March 2022. All pupils who were eligible for free school meals up to April 2018 will continue to receive free school meals during this period.
Once Universal Credit is fully rolled out, any existing claimants who no longer meet the eligibility criteria will still qualify for free school meals until the end of their current stage of education (i.e. primary or secondary).
Children who are or have been in care, and children who have a parent who is or was in the armed forces, are also entitled to pupil premium.
Please don’t hesitate to contact the school office if you are unclear or need any assistance with the application process.