Information about Free School Meals - how to apply and how this benefits our School through the Pupil Premium funding.

Pupil Premium Funding

The Pupil Premium Grant is a Government funded grant for all schools in England, aimed at addressing underlying inequalities. It is allocated to children (from Reception age onwards) for families who are eligible for free school meals (FSM), children looked after in local authority care and to include children in all households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF).  Schools are expected to use the funding to help close attainment gaps for eligible pupils; they are free to spend the Pupil Premium Grant as they see fit but will be accountable for how they have used the funding to support pupils from low income families. There is the expectation that schools will be able to demonstrate impact on the attainment of pupils eligible for the Pupil Premium. Pupil premium is funding to improve education outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in schools in England. Evidence shows that disadvantaged children generally face additional challenges in reaching their potential at school and often do not perform as well as other pupils.

At Bellfield Infant School we are committed to promoting the progress and attainment of all our pupils, whatever their backgrounds. The targeted and strategic use of the Pupil Premium will support us in achieving our vision. We focus on getting the basics of spoken language, literacy and numeracy right as early as possible, and work with parents to maximise engagement with their child’s education.

 

All children who currently qualify for free school meals based on their family circumstances are entitled to pupil premium. This applies if you receive any of the following benefits: (Updated 2022)

  • Universal credit (provided you have a net income of £7400 or less)
  • Income support
  • Income-based jobseekers’ allowance
  • Income-related employment and support allowance
  • Support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guaranteed element of state pension credit
  • Child tax credit, provided that you are not also entitled to working tax credit and have an annual gross income of £16,190 or less

Children who are or have been in care, and children who have a parent who is or was in the armed forces, are also entitled to pupil premium.

In addition, pupils who have qualified for free school meals on the above grounds in the past, but are no longer eligible, continue to receive pupil premium for the next six years.

Even though all children in Reception and KS1 receive universal free school meals it is important that you tell school that you are entitled to pupil premium so that school can claim the extra funding to benefit the children.

The consent form will be completed as part of the application process when you apply to our school.  

If your circumstances change and your family becomes entitled to Pupil Premium, please tell school immediately.