Free School Meals

Free School Meals & Pupil Premium

Your child may be eligible to receive free school meals (and thus Pupil Premium funding) if you are in receipt of:

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 guarantee element of Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

In addition, the following pupils will be protected against losing their free school meals as follows:

Since 1 April 2018, all existing free school meals claimants have continued to receive free school meals whilst Universal Credit is rolled out. This applies even if their earnings rise above the threshold during that time.
In addition, any pupil gaining eligibility for free school meals after 1 April 2018 will be protected against losing free school meals until March 2025.
After March 2025, any existing claimants that no longer meet the eligibility criteria at that point (because they are earning above the threshold or are no longer a recipient of Universal Credit) will continue to receive free school meals until the end of their current phase of education (i.e. primary or secondary).

A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal when a claim for the meal has been made on their behalf and their eligibility, or protected status, has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority.

In order to access this funding, you must apply online only via the East Sussex County Council website at: https://admissions.eastsussex.gov.uk/Enrol/Website/default.aspx

Since 2011, pupil premium is the funding scheme which allows schools to access additional funding linked to the number of children claiming free school meals. Those pupils who are in receipt of Free School Meals, or who have had Free School Meals in the last 6 years, are eligible for support with this Premium, as are pupils who are currently in care.

Pupil Premium is funding received from the Government with the aim of closing the gap in attainment between pupils from low income and disadvantaged families and their peers. At St. Richard’s, we are sensitive about our handling of support for pupils and offer discretion to parents/carers accessing this funding.

It is, therefore, vital that parents who qualify for free school meals apply even if they do not wish to take up the offer of a free school meal.

Please see the qualifying criteria at the bottom of the page.