Free School Meals

If your child is eligible for ‘Free School Meals’ and you register them for this, we’ll receive extra funding called ‘Pupil Premium’. We use this extra money to improve the educational provision and resources at the school.

What is Pupil Premium funding?
Pupil Premium funding from the government is given to schools to help pupils reach their full potential, regardless of their background or financial situation. It’s provided for pupils who:

 Are registered for free school meals
 Have been registered for free school meals at any point in the past 6 years
 Are, or have been, in care

At Ashfield Junior School we get an extra £1,385 for every eligible pupil who is registered for free school meals. This extra money could make a real difference to the quality of education we offer.  For example, we’ve previously used pupil premium funding for:

 Educational provision/resources
 Academic interventions
In addition to the benefit to the school as a whole your child will benefit from:
 Free milk
 Subsidised school trips
 Subsidised clubs
 Subsidised music lessons through Herts Music Service

Is my child eligible for Free School Meals?
Your child can get a Free School Meals if you receive any of the following:

 Income Support
 Income-based Jobseekers 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 (as long as you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and you don’t get
more than £16,190 a year)
 Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax
Credit)
 Universal Credit (with annual earned income of no more than £7,400 after tax and not
including any benefits you get).

Does my child have to eat the Free School Meals?
No. Pupils who are registered for Free School Meals don’t have to eat them. If you’re eligible but you want your child to have packed lunches you should still register because the school will receive the funding which can support your child in other ways.

How do I register?
You only need to register once at the school. To register, please go to the link below where you will be able to check your eligibility and apply online:

https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/schools-and-education/at-school/free-school-meals/free-school-meals.aspx#year3

More information
For more information about Pupil Premium click on the Pupil Premium link on the school website, which contains details of how the Pupil Premium has been spent in the past academic year and how it will be spent this year.

If you have any queries with applying, you can email admin@ashfield.herts.sch.uk or enquire at the school office.