Pupil Premium & Free School Meals
Pupil Premium & Free School Meals
All children starting school in the reception class, Year 1 or Year 2 in a state maintained primary school, will receive a free school meal regardless of income. For children attending a school nursery, junior classes (Years 3-6) or a secondary school, parents will have to pay for the school meals.
Free School Meals
How much could you save?
To qualify for free meals, you must meet the eligibility criteria listed below. If your child qualifies for free school meals, you can save up to £10.00 a week or £390 a year.
Even if your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, you should still apply for Pupil Premium. If you are eligible, the school will receive approximately £1000 per child.
How to apply
When your child starts school and if you meet the eligibility criteria for free school meals as described below, your child’s school can claim the Pupil Premium funding from the department of Education to help your child learn. If your child attends a school in Hackney, you must apply by completing the application form. You only have to apply once. We will check your entitlement against information held by the Department of Education on a regular basis so that you do not have to renew your application every year or provide proof of your entitlement.
You will need to first register to apply online for Free School Meals/ Pupil Premium at:
https://ems.learningtrust.co.uk/CitizenPortal_LIVE/Account/Register
(within Hackney Citizens Portal)
Eligibility
It does not matter where you live as long as your child goes to a school in Hackney. To qualify, your child must be in school and you must be getting one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance
- NASS Support
- Guarantee element of State Pension
- Child Tax Credit, with an income of £16,190 or less where the household is not getting Working Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit for the four weeks after employment ends
A child over 16 getting any of these benefits is also eligible to receive free school meals.
The Hackney Citizens Portal is the quickest way to apply for free school meals/ pupil premium and confirm your eligibility.
After you have completed your application, you will receive an email to confirm your eligibility, this you can take to the school. We will also send out a notification of the school of your child’s Free School Meal and Pupil Premium eligibility.
If your child attends a school in another borough, you will have to make enquiries at the school to find out how you apply for Free School Meal.
Pupil Premium
The government gives money to children who have free school meals and/or are looked after. This report outlines how the school has been using this to help the children.