Free School Meals and Pupil Premium explained

You can apply by clicking on this link.

Free School Meals Explained!

All Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a Universal Free School Meal (often referred to as UFSM).

If you are in receipt of certain benefits you may be entitled to Free School Meals (FSM). Confusing hey! The difference is that if you are entitled to FSM there are other means of support that you can tap into. Once you are in receipt of benefits related Free School Meals your child’s school will receive additional funding (Pupil Premium) to help and support you through your child’s education. The school will also receive extra support to deliver a fully inclusive and accessible education for all of our pupils.

You can apply for Free School Meals at any time while your child is at St. St. Michael and All Angels Primary School.

For example:

If you apply and are entitled to Free School Meals in Reception class the funding is there to support you during your child’s entire time at St. Michael and All Angels. If you become eligible in year 5 then the Pupil Premium funding goes with you to secondary school.

How can Pupil Premium funding help me?

Pupil Premium funding is used at the schools discretion to support children, each situation is assessed individually but examples of the support that could be available are listed below:

• Help with before and after school childcare

• Before and after school sports and activities

• Support with payment for trips if receiving FSM

·   Holiday clubs

• Support from the local authority with supermarket vouchers during holiday periods (currently £15 per week per child)

Is my child eligible?

From 1 April 2018, free school meals in all Lancashire County Council maintained, free schools and academies are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)

• 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 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 £16,190)

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

If you are eligible for benefits-related free school meals in accordance with the above criteria, and your child is also receiving Universal Infant Free School Meals, please still apply. This will enable your child's school to claim valuable 'pupil premium' funding.

If either parent works within the armed forces or if a child is looked after from care they may also be eligible for benefits. Documentation will need to be provided in these instances.

How do I apply?

You can apply for Free School Meals online via Lancashire County Council. You will need to complete a simple form and then await the response.

Use this link to apply.

If your child comes under any of the categories below you might also be entitled to Pupil Premium support:

• Children of those employed in the Armed Services

• Children adopted from care

Please get in touch with the school office to find out how to apply and what support is offered on 01282 861338 bursar@st-michaelangels.lancs.sch.uk