Registering for Free School Meals

Many of our families are facing a significant change to their personal circumstances as a result of the cost of living crisis. If you fulfil certain criteria, you may be entitled to claim for Free School Meals (FSM) for your child if they are in Reception or above. The entitlement criteria for Free School Meals from 1 April 2018 is for those on-

·         Income Support

·         Income Based Job Seekers Allowance

·         Income Related Employment and Support Allowance

·         Eligible for Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and the household income (as used by HMRC to assess tax credits) is not more that £16,190. Please note: anyone eligible for Working Tax Credit, or if you have a partner and they receive it, regardless of Income, you will not qualify

·         The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

·         Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

·         In receipt of the 4 week run on of working tax credit (this is where someone becomes unemployed or reduces their hours and so is no longer entitled to working tax credit but will continue to receive it for a further 4 weeks and is entitled to free meals during that time)

·         Universal credit (provided you have an annual net earned household income of no more than £7,400 as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods). Your net earned income is your household income after taxes and deductions and does not include income from Universal Credit or any other benefits you may receive.

If you think you are eligible for Free School Meals, please speak to someone in the office – we will help you with your application if you would like us to. Applications should be made online at https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Educational-awards-benefits/FreeSchoolMeals/Apply-online.aspx

Once an application has been made and is successful, the academy will be notified by the Local Authority and then we can process your entitlement to the voucher scheme while schools are closed. Even if your child is in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 and currently receives universal free school meals but you are eligible to apply for the Free School Meals scheme, please do apply as it enables the school to access six years of additional funding for your child under the Pupil Premium scheme too. This additional funding enables school to provide wider opportunities, experiences and invest in resources to raise pupil attainment.