Free School Meal Eligibility 2024-25

Dear Parents/Carers,

We would like to remind parents/carers that families who receive certain benefits may be eligible for Benefit Related Free School Meals.  It is important that families apply for this, if they think they may be eligible, even if your child does not have school lunches or already receives Universal Infant Free School Meals (children in years R, 1 and 2).

Children who are eligible for Free School Meals can also receive financial assistance towards the cost of school uniform, trips and KS2 music lessons.  They will also be eligible for support from North Somerset’s Household Support Grant, in the form of supermarket vouchers and free holiday activities.

For every child who is eligible for Free School Meals, the school will receive £1,480 per year additional funding in the form of Pupil Premium.  This funding is provided to help improve the education of disadvantaged pupils in schools in England.  Our Pupil Premium funding enables us to employ additional adults to support children’s learning in the classroom, as well as provide services such as our Learning Mentor, Lunch Club, Forest School activities and much more.

If you are in receipt of one of the following benefits your child will be eligible for Free School Meals and we would encourage you to make an application: 

• Universal Credit with an annual take home income of below £7,400 (£616.67 per month), not including benefits
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual income of no more than £16,190

You will need to apply for each child separately, as eligibility for siblings is not automatic and, once eligible, your child will remain eligible until they move onto secondary school.

Please go to https://n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/schools-learning/local-schools/free-school-meals and use the link at the bottom of the page to apply via the Citizen’s Portal.  You will receive an instant response; if you are eligible, please forward a copy of your confirmation to [email protected] as soon as possible.  Eligibility will start from the date of your application and cannot be backdated.

IMPORTANT – if your child is already eligible for Benefit Related Free School Meals, please DO NOT REAPPLY as this could result in you losing your entitlement.  Please check with us before applying if you are not sure.

If you have any questions or issues, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

With kind regardsMrs Samantha Hodder

Principal