Free school meals and pupil premium

Entitlement criteria

Your child may be able to get free school meals (FSM) if you (as parents/guardians) get any of the following:

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). If your latest assessment statement shows your net earned income was no more than £616.67 you will be entitled to free school meals
Income Support
income-based Jobseekers Allowance*
income-related Employment Support Allowance
support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (from the National Asylum Support Service)
the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit

*Children who receive income based Jobseeker's Allowance in their own right can also get free school lunches.

Universal Infant Free School Meals

Universal Infant Free School Meals are an automatic entitlement for children in Reception to year 2, so please don't apply here unless you are in receipt of any of the above listed benefits (you simply will not be charged when you order meals using the schools ordering system). If you are in receipt of the above, your child will also qualify for pupil premium support so it is important for you to apply. Please see below for more information about pupil premium.

Transferring from Primary to secondary school

If your child is eligible for free school meals in Year 6, this entitlement will continue into Year 7. For children transferring from a West Berkshire primary school to a West Berkshire secondary school, we will automatically inform the secondary school of their eligibility - no further action is required.

If your child did not attend a West Berkshire primary school, please contact their secondary school directly. The school will be able to check eligibility and advise on the next steps.

If your child has not previously received free school meals but you believe you may be eligible because you receive one of the listed benefits above, you need to submit an application.

Applying for free school meals

To apply for free school meals at West Berkshire schools and maintained nurseries you can:

Apply online.
It's quick and easy and you can do this at a time that is convenient for you - we'll contact you by email to confirm if you qualify.
Apply over the phone.
We'll take you through the form for you right there and then, just have your National Insurance number ready

Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium is extra government funding that is paid to schools for every child who's eligible for free school meals throughout their time at school. It can help to pay for important things, like school trips, uniforms and PE kit, music lessons, and additional help with subjects like English and Maths. Schools are required to have a pupil premium policy on their website that explains how the funds will be used.

Getting the right information to make sure that Pupil Premium money can be claimed for your child is sometimes complicated for schools.

If your child qualifies for free school meals, or has at any point in the past six years, it's important that you tell their school so they can get the extra funding.

This applies even if your child is:

In reception, year 1 or year 2 and receives universal school meals for infant pupils
In year 3 or older and takes a packed lunch