Free school meals

From September 2014, the Government introduced that all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils will be eligible for Free School meals. Pupils who are in Year 3 and above and attend school, will be entitled only if they are in receipt of the following benefits:

• Income Support; (or Guaranteed Pension Credit for over 60 years) 
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance 
• Child Tax Credit, (but not Working Tax Credit) and who have a yearly taxable income of less that of £16,190 
• An Income Related Employment & Support Allowance 
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

If you think you are eligible, please use the following forms to apply.

Strictly4Education Free School Meals Form

Pupil premium

If you are eligible for free schools meals and apply for them, school is given additional funding. 

In 2020-21 financial year this will be: 

• £1,345 per pupil of primary-school age
• £310 per pupil who has a parent in the Services
• £2,345 per pupil for looked-after children who have been looked after for 1 day or more; are adopted; leave care under a Special Guardianship Order or a Residence Order

• To apply for pupil premium funding, please complete the document here - Hard copies are available from the school office.

This money is used to help provide additional resources for your children. 

Eligibility checks

During a period of entitlement there may be a change in circumstances and free school meals may be withdrawn. 

The most common reasons include:

• The parent or guardian ceases to receive a qualifying benefit
• The child leaves school
• The family move out of the borough
• The child is absent from school for a long time

Parents are advised to informschool if their circumstances change. Parents/carers who are found to be no longer eligible will be written to, inviting them to provide additional evidence to prove that they are still entitled to claim Free School Meals. 

Parents/carers will be asked to provide this evidence within three weeks.