School Dinners

Universal Infant Free School Meals
From September 2014, the Government implemented its Universal Infant Free School Meal(UIFSM) programme for all pupils in Early Years and Years 1 and 2. As such, all children in EYFS and KS1 are entitled to a universal free school meal and these can be ordered in the same way as above but no money needs to be paid (once you go to the checkout page on ParentPay it will show as a zero value). All other children in the school i.e. Key Stage 2 pupils, will be required to pay for meals unless they are eligible for free school meals as a result of being in receipt of certain benefits.

Free School Meals (Pupil Premium)
If you are in receipt of certain benefits, you may be eligible for Free School Meals:-

• 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 guaranteed 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 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

• Children under the compulsory school age who are in full time education may also be entitled to receive free school meals.

A new Citizen Portal has been launched to help you find out if your child qualifies for free school meals. Please visit it to sign up, even if your child is in EYFS, Year 1 or 2 and receiving universal free school meals, or if you have applied before and do not think you are eligible. In doing so, you will help us to find out whether we can claim Pupil Premium for your child. This is additional funding to spend on resources such as extra staff, books or school trips for eligible children.

The system is quick and simple to use and can be accessed via a smartphone or hand held device. If you qualify, you will receive a reference number that you simply bring in and show us at school to start receiving meals. Please register at:

https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/sims/

If you need help, please speak to the Office.

Free School Meals for families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

Eligibility for free school meals will now be permanently extended to children from all families with no recourse to public funds.

New government guidance states that eligible groups include, but may not be limited to children of:

• Zambrano carers

• Families who have no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights

• Families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction

• A subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• Chen carers

• Families holding a BN(O) passport

• Spousal visa holders

• Work visa holders

• Student visa holders

• Those with no immigration status

Families with no recourse to public funds must also meet the following maximum income thresholds:

• £22,700 per annum for families outside London with one child

• £31,200 per annum for families within London with one child

• £26,300 per annum for families outside London with two or more children

• £34,800 per annum for families within London with two or more children

For further information, please speak to the school office.