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Benefits Related Free School Meals

Since September 2014 ALL the children in the main school (Reception to Year Two) are entitled to a school meal, free of charge, every day. - there is no need to apply for this.

In the past, the only families entitled to Free School Meals were those who were in receipt of certain benefits. In addition to the children being entitled to Free School Meals, the school also received additional funding to help ensure all children reach their potential.  We use this money to for outr pupil premium strategy which includes  having smaller classes (on average, just 21 children compared with the national average of 30) and to put in place additional support of children where necessary.

 

All children who currently qualify for free school meals based on their family circumstances are entitled to pupil premium. This applies if you receive any of the following benefits:
  • Universal credit (provided you have a net income of £7400 or less)
  • Income support
  • Income-based jobseekers’ allowance
  • Income-related employment and support allowance
  • Support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guaranteed element of state pension credit
  • Child tax credit, provided that you are not also entitled to working tax credit and have an annual gross income of £16,190 or less
Children who are or have been in care, and children who have a parent who is or was in the armed forces, are also entitled to pupil premium.

In addition, pupils who have qualified for free school meals on the above grounds in the past, but are no longer eligible, continue to receive pupil premium for the next six years.

Schools are responsible for recording the children who are eligible for pupil premium in their annual school census - you don't have to do anything yourself, other than making sure you return any paperwork that relates to the benefits you receive or your child's entitlement to free school meals.

If your child qualifies for free school meals or has at any point in the past six years, it’s important that you tell the school – even if they're in Reception or KS1 and receive universal school meals for infant pupils, or  take a packed lunch – as this enables them to claim pupil premium.

You can make the application through the Cornwall County Council Website