Free School Meals (Pupil Premium)
Did you know that we could receive additional government funding to support your child(ren) if you are a low income family? If you are entitled to claim Free School Meals and Clothing Vouchers, the school can also receive £1345 per pupil per year to support their learning. This is called the Pupil Premium.
What is the Pupil Premium?
Since 2011 primary schools have been given a sum of money by Government to support and improve the attainment of disadvantaged children. This is allocated for every child who has been registered for free school meals during the last six years (known as 'Ever 6'). Adopted and looked after children and those with parents in the Armed Forces are also eligible for this funding.
If your child is entitled to the Universal Infant Free School Meals as they are in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, you should still make your application for Free School Meals if you are eligible. This means that school won't miss out on vital additional funding.
The Pupil Premium can be spent in a number of ways (this list is by no means exhaustive)
- Extra one-to-one or small-group support for children within the classroom.
- Employing extra teaching assistants to work with classes.
- Running catch-up sessions outside of the classroom, for example for children who need extra help with maths or literacy.
- Running a school breakfast club to improve attendance.
- Providing extra tuition for able children.
- Providing music lessons for children whose families would be unable to pay for them.
- Funding educational trips and visits.
- Paying for additional help such as speech and language therapy or family therapy.
- Investing in resources that boost children’s learning, such as laptops or tablets.
Often, all of the children in a class will reap some benefit from how the school spends its pupil premium: for example, if the money is used to fund an additional teaching assistant who works across the whole class, rather than providing one-to-one support.
For every child who is registered for Free School Meals (you don't have to take the free meals, just be registered) then we receive £1345 every year for at least six years whilst children remain at Hallbankgate School. Also if you have qualified for free school meals in the past but are no longer eligible, we would continue to receive pupil premium for the next six years.
Who is Eligible?
Free school meals and clothing vouchers are available for your child(ren) if you receive one of the following qualifying benefits:
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Income Support (IS)
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Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA)
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An income related Employment and Support Allowance
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Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
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Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) that as of April 2012 does not exceed £16,190. Note: From 1st May 2009 where you are entitled to Working Tax Credit during the four week period immediately after your employment ceases, or after you start to work less than 16 hours per week, your children are entitled to Free School Meals, this may be extended
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The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
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Universal Credit
If you receive working tax credits you may not be eligible for free school meals or clothing grants.
Children who receive Income Support or Income Based Jobseekers Allowance in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals.
Free schools meals are available to statutory school aged children attending full time education (full days only 9am to 3pm), excluding private nurseries and further education colleges.
From 1 April 2018, the government introduced a Universal Credit earning threshold of £7,400 per year for free school meal eligibility.
This means that some families who are eligible now would not be if they apply after 1 April. Also, children eligible for free school meals by 1 April will continue to receive them until at least 2022, without the need for further eligibility checks while Universal Credit is rolled out across the country.
If you receive Universal Credit and are not already claiming free school meals for your children, or you have not applied as your child is currently in Key Stage 1 (universal free school meals), make sure you don't miss out and apply online now.
How do I apply?
Please Note: All children who currently receive free school meals and clothing grants do not need to apply each year.
- where possible all parents and guardians should apply online - you will receive an immediate response advising you whether you are eligible or not
- if you are unable to apply online please contact the free school meals team - telephone: 01228 606060Find out more information hereApply online here