Register for free school meals online

Free School Meals

The nationwide scheme ‘Universal Infant Free School Meals’ was introduced on 1 September 2014. All children attending school in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to free school meals, regardless of income or eligibility for benefits. By receiving free school meals you can save over £400 a year and ensure your child is eating a healthy, balanced meal every day. 

How ‘Universal Infant Free School Meals’ will affect Pupil Premium

In this financial year, schools will receive £1320 extra for every primary-aged pupil registered as eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years. Even though all infants receive a free school meal as detailed above, parents/carers still need to make an application for Free School Meals. Children don’t have to take our meals if they don’t want to but, if they are on our Free School Meals register, then they qualify for all sorts of other financial benefits throughout the year. During the COVID pandemic, the families of all children who receive Pupil Premium funding have received £15 per week per child during the holidays and lockdowns to support with providing nourishing meals.  

When a child is on our Free School Meals register, the school receives extra money for that child which has to be spent on raising achievement of free school meals children. This extra money is called the ‘Pupil Premium’ and its purpose is to ensure that children from low income families, service children and adopted children are not at a disadvantage during their education as a result of home circumstances.

Is my child eligible for Pupil Premium?

In order for the school to receive the Pupil Premium funding a parent/carer must be claiming one of the following benefits:

Income support

Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance

Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance

Child Tax Credit (without Working Tax Credit) and an annual income below £16,190

The Guaranteed Element of Pension Tax Credit

Asylum Seeker under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

How to register for Free School Meals

In order to register your child to receive Pupil Premium you will need to go to the following website and follow the instructions:

http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals

Alternatively, you can print a paper registration form from the website or collect one from the School Office