ALL infant children, those in reception, year 1 and Year 2, are entitled to free school meals.

However, if your child would have been entitled to free school meals under the old system, because you are receiving qualifying benefits, the government will give our school a Pupil Premium of £1,320. But for the school and your child to benefit from this money we need to know that you are receiving a qualifying benefit. If you are, please let us know by completing an application form, which can be obtained from the school offices, by clicking the Universal FSM - Pupil Premium Application document below or online at Apply Online.

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of State 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 - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit

For the school and your child to benefit from this money we need to know that you are receiving a qualifying benefit, no matter what year your child is in.

For children in years 3 and above, free school meals are not provided automatically. They can be awarded only if you receive any of the benefits detailed above.

Registering your child for free school meals means that the school gets extra money.

The government is giving money to schools to help children from lower income families do their very best. This funding is called a Pupil Premium.

For every child registered the school gets £1,320 for primary-aged pupils (2017-2018).  Examples of how this money can be spent include:

• Purchasing specialist support, audit of provision, developing the vision
• CPD for key staff
• Developing a creative curriculum
• Resources to support inclusion, software focused on specific needs
• Purchase of technology resources for individuals, existing, new and emerging
• Developing strategies for engaging children and parents in and out of school
• Developing collaboration, support or mentoring projects
• Supporting the work of schools, governors, staff and parents on e-safety
• Subsidy of school clubs, specialist teachers to promote engagement.

How does it work?

If you want your child to have a free, healthy meal at lunchtime that’s great – they will get the free school meal (saving you more that £350 a year) and the school gets £1,320 extra (2017-2018).

If you don’t want your child to have the free school meals they can continue as normal – as long as you qualify and are registered, the school still gets £1,320 extra.

Please remember you must qualify and register for the free school meals for the school to receive the extra money even if you do not want your child to have the free school meals.

Registering for free school meals is confidential, no one will know you have registered and it will not affect any other benefits you are claiming.

The completed form can be returned to your child’s school. They will forward it to us on your behalf. Alternatively, you can send it direct to:

Free School Meals
Children's Services
Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN