Free School Meals

Free School Meals provide vital support for families and help ensure every child can enjoy a healthy, nutritious meal during the school day. They also play an important role in securing additional funding for our school.

Who is eligible?

Your child may be entitled to Free School Meals if you receive one or more of the following benefits:

• 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 guaranteed element of Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual income does not exceed the threshold)

• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

• Universal Credit

If you think you may be eligible, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 families – this is still important

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 currently receive Universal Infant Free School Meals, which are funded by the government.

However, it is still essential to apply for Free School Meals if you are eligible.

Applying means the school can receive Pupil Premium funding, even though your child already receives a free meal.

Why applying really matters

If your child is eligible and registered for Free School Meals, the school receives additional Pupil Premium funding each year.

This funding helps us to:

• Provide extra learning resources

• Support pupils in the classroom

• Help with the cost of trips and enrichment activities

• Enhance wider opportunities for children

Applying for Free School Meals helps both your child and the wider school community.

Need more support?

If your circumstances have changed or you are unsure whether you qualify, it is always worth checking. Applications are confidential, and applying will not affect the meals your child receives in school.