Free School Meals and Milk

All Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a Universal Free School Meal (often referred to as UFSM).

If you are in receipt of certain benefits you may be entitled to Free School Meals (FSM). The difference is that if you are entitled to FSM there are other means of support that you can tap into. Once you are in receipt of benefits related Free School Meals your child’s school will receive additional funding (Pupil Premium) to help and support you through your child’s education. The school will also receive extra support to deliver a fully inclusive and accessible education for all of our pupils.

You can apply for Free School Meals at any time while your child is at school.

For example:

If you apply and are entitled to Free School Meals in Reception class the funding is there to support you for your child’s entire time at primary school. If you become eligible in year 5 then the Pupil Premium funding goes with you to secondary school.

How can Pupil Premium funding help me?

Pupil Premium funding is used at the school’s discretion to support children, each situation is assessed individually but examples of the support available are listed below:

Is my child eligible?

Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the qualifying benefits below:

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earning from up to three of your most recent assessment periods). 

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• The guarantee element of Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual gross income of no more than £16,190 

• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after the person stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

If you are eligible for benefits-related free school meals in accordance with the above criteria, and your child is also receiving Universal Infant Free School Meals, please still apply. This will enable your child's school to claim valuable 'pupil premium' funding.

If either parent works within the armed forces or if a child is looked after from care they may also be eligible for benefits. Documentation will need to be provided in these instances.

How do I apply?

If you believe your child may be eligible you will need to fill out an application form, which can be obtained by phoning Nottinghamshire County Council on  0300 500 80 80 or filling out the application online at 

https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/education/school-meals/free-school-meals-and-milk

To apply, you will need to register and provide:

• your National Insurance Number or National Asylum Support Service Reference Number

• your last name

• your date of birth

If your entitlement to free school meals cannot be assessed through the eligibility checking system, the council will let you know.  If you think you are eligible to the benefits listed you can provide more details for a manual assessment.

If your child comes under and of the categories below you might also be entitled to Pupil Premium support:

• Children of those employed in the Armed Services

• Children adopted from care

Please get in touch with Nottinghamshire County Council to find out how to apply and what support is offered.