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). 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. Mary's School.

For example:

If you apply and are entitled to Free School Meals in Reception class the funding is there to support you for your child’s entire time at St. Mary's. 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

Is my child eligible?

Free school meals in all maintained and 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 on line via Lancashire County Council. You will need to complete a simple form and then await the response.

If your child comes under and 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.