Pupil Premium and Free School Meals

If your child is eligible for ‘free school meals’ and you register them for this before the end of September, we’ll 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

At Pinner Park, we get an extra £1345 for every eligible pupil who is registered for free school meals. This extra money could make a real difference to the quality of education we offer.

For example, we’ve previously used pupil premium funding for:

• Educational provision/resources
• Academic interventions
• Wellbeing and self-esteem building interventions
• Additional staff members to support the above

What support is available for families?
In addition to a free school meal, we have supported our eligible families in the following ways over the past year:

• Supermarket vouchers for food during lockdown and school holidays
• £40 uniform voucher for 'back to school'
• Significant discounts on musical instrument tuition
• Free or discounted school visits and trips

Is my child eligible for free school meals? 
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• 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)

Universal infant free school meals
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 benefits-related criteria above, you should still register because we’ll receive the extra pupil premium funding and you will receive the additional support.

Does my child have to eat the free school meals?
No. Pupils who are registered for free school meals don’t have to eat them. If you’re 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 and you will receive the additional support.


How do I register?
You only need to register once at the school. 

To register, please visit https://pps.lgfl.org.uk/ and follow the instructions to check eligibility.

If you prefer, we can run a check on your behalf, as long as you can provide the following information.  Send an email with the information and we’ll check for you:

• Parent's National Insurance (or NASS) number (9 digits)
• Parent's full name
• Parent's date of birth

More information
If you would like any more information, please do get in touch.  We are very happy to answer any questions.

Deadline
The government will check the number of eligible children at Pinner Park on 7 October.  The number of eligible children on that day will set our funding for the next financial year.   Therefore, we are asking for any checks to be made before the end of September.  If you apply after the deadline we won't receive the funding until 2023.

If your child is already eligible, you do not need to check again.

It only takes a few moments to check.  If you think that your child may be eligible please do check.