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Free School Meals

Universal Infant Free School Meals

You may have heard about the Universal Infant Free School Meals. This means that all children attending school in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a free school meal, regardless of income or eligibility for benefits.

By receiving free school meals you can save up to £400 a year and ensure your child is eating a healthy, balanced meal every day.

This entitlement ends when children progress into Year 3.

Pupil Premium Free School Meals

For some children, if their parents receive certain benefits, they may be eligible for Pupil Premium Free School Meals which would potentially progress with them into Year 3 and beyond.  For every primary-aged pupil registered as eligible for free school meals at any point, the school will receive additional funding called Pupil Premium for the following 6 years. This funding can be used across the school to fund provision, such as resources and staffing, that benefits children from low income families and endeavours to ensure that they are not at a disadvantage during their education as a result of home circumstances. Even if a child comes off free school meals, the funding stays attached to them for 6 years.

If you are in receipt of any of the following benefits, you could help us claim £1300 to help the work of the school in supporting pupil in receipt of Pupil Premium.

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or 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’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
  • Working Tax Credit run-on
  • Universal Credit, provided you have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400 (£616.67 per month)

Children who qualify for Pupil Premium Free School Meals don’t have to take free school meals if they don’t want to; however, if they are on our Free School Meals register, then the school qualifies for other financial benefits throughout the year regardless. This funding is still available to schools, even during Reception, Years 1 and 2 when all pupils are eligible for Universal Free School Meals anyway. However, for the school and pupils to benefit from Pupil Premium during Key Stage 1 and later in KS2, parents need to apply for Pupil Premium Free School Meals for the school to benefit.

In order for the school to receive Pupil Premium, Medway Council have launched an online free school meal service for parents/ carers who think they may qualify based on income and benefits received. You can submit your claim for free school meals via this quick and easy online service. This service is a quick and easy application process and will ensure that your child/children’s eligibility for free school meals are processed with the most up to date information and will provide ongoing checks throughout the year with no need for you to make further applications. Visit https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/medway/ to make an online application.

If you feel you are unable to apply online, please speak to the school office, who will assist you.