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Useful Information

Edsential School Catering

Free School Meals

If your child is eligible for ‘free school meals’ and you register them for this, we will 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
  • Have parents in the armed forces

We have previously used pupil premium funding for:

  • Funding school trips
  • 1:1 support
  • Parent Support Advisor
  • Extra Teaching Assistant support

Is my child eligible for Free School Meals?

Your child might be eligible if you access:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Guaranteed Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit with a total annual taxable income of less than £16,190 and are not receiving Working Tax Credit
  • Income related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Universal Credit depending on how much you receive if you or your partner is working
  • Have successfully obtained asylum status

If you are a foster cater, and receiving a fostering allowance, you are not eligible to claim free school meals for those children you are fostering from school Year 3 and above.

Universal infant free school meals (UIFSM)

Currently, pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a free school meal thanks to a different government funding scheme known as Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM). You shouldn’t confuse UIFSM with Free Schools Meals and the Pupil Premium.

If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 and is eligible for Free School Meals according to the criteria above, you should still register because we will receive the extra Pupil Premium funding.

Does my child have to eat the free school meals?

No. Pupils who are registered for Free School Meals do not have to eat them. If you are 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. Please use the link below to register:

Attendance Matters

It is a legal requirement for parents/carers to obtain the permission of the Headteacher before removing their child from school in order to take any leave in term time.

Parents do not have an automatic right to take their children out of school for leave during term time and may be issued with a Penalty Notice (£80/£160 per parent per child for a first occasion) if they do so without prior arrangement with the Headteacher. 

The legislation only allows the Headteacher to authorise such leave in exceptional circumstances.

Complete the form, attached above (pdf), and return it to school well in advance of any possible holiday booking or leave.

Cool Milk

The external company, Cool Milk manage the system for purchasing/ordering school milk.  All parents who wish their child(ren) to have school milk MUST register via the website below.  

If you have applied for Free School Meals, which includes free milk, you MUST also register on this website otherwise milk will not be ordered for your child.

  1. Application for Leave of Absence.