Pupil Premium and Free School Meals FAQs

What is Pupil Premium funding?

All children in Reception/EYFS, Year 1 or Year 2 get free school meals in school through a national scheme. However, if they are eligible for free school meals for another reason, registering them is really important, because as well as your child getting a lovely free lunch, for every child registered for free school meals, the school gets extra ‘Pupil Premium’ funding. 

Pupil Premium is additional funding for schools 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
• have parents in the armed forces

How much Pupil Premium funding does the school receive?

At Heasandford Primary School, we get an extra £1,480 for the 2024/2025 financial year for every eligible pupil who is registered for free school meals. This extra money makes a real difference to the quality of education we can offer.

Is my child eligible for Free School Meals?

If you receive these benefits, your child may be eligible:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or 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 (as long as you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit) if you have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
• Working Tax Credit run-on - but not if you receive Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit, if your earned income after tax is £616.67 per month (£7,400 per year) or less.

My household has no recourse to public funds (NRPF). Is my child eligible for free school meals?

Children of households with NRPF may be eligible, this includes:

• Zambrano and Chen carers (non-EEA nationals caring for a British citizen residing in the UK)
• British National (Overseas) passport holders
• Spousal visa, work visa, or student visa holders
• Those with no immigration status
• Families with a right to remain in the UK under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights
• Families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction
• Certain failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Will the fact my child is registered for Free School Meals be made public?

We keep this information as confidential as possible and we do not publish identifying details of children registered for free school meals.

How do I apply for Free School Meals?

• collect an application form from the school office and return it to school when completed
• print off the form below and return to school when completed
• apply online with Lancashire County Council (see link below)

How does school spend the Pupil Premium Funding?

Please read the information below which gives details of our Pupil Premium grant and how we allocate the funding.