Free School Meals and Pupil Premium

Families who receive certain benefits may be eligible for free school meals. It is important to apply even if your child is in Reception or KS1 and therefore receives Universal Infant School Meals as this enables the school to claim ‘Pupil premium’. This is explained below.
Your child is eligible for free school meals if you are in receipt of one of the following benefits:

– Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400
– Income Support

• Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400.
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual income of no more than £16,190
  

Moving forwards, there is no obligation for your child to have a school lunch if you are eligible for FSM. However, primary schools are given additional money known as ‘Pupil Premium’ for children in Reception to Year 6 who are, or have ever been, entitled to free school meals. This additional funding can be used to subsidise school uniform, clubs and trips as well as funding valuable support such as 1:1 tuition, booster groups, learning mentors and additional teaching staff. Pupil Premium is currently set at £1320 per pupil, per school year, a significant amount which can be used to benefit pupils.

You can apply for FSM/Pupil Premium by completing a Pupil Premium Application Form which you can download here.

The local authority will then check to establish eligibility.

All applications are confidential.

Please contact us if you have any queries about Free School Meals and Pupil Premium. We will be happy to help and support you.