Dear Parent/Carer,

During this difficult time, we would like to remind you of additional support that is available to you, should you meet the criteria outlined below. Should require support in understanding or translation please contact us using the details below.

Children in Reception and Key Stage 1 are automatically eligible for Universal Infant Free School Meals. However, to be eligible to receive additional support an application, detailed below, will be required regardless of being in Reception, Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2.

For every pupil registered with the council as eligible under the entitlement criteria below, the school will receive additional funding in the school budget called Pupil Premium (£1,385 per child) which is used to help raise achievement levels. This also includes enabling access to facilities, clubs, and subsidising trips and residentials. If you do not claim for Free School Meals, then the Pupil Premium funding will not be available for your child (e.g. subsidising the above).

Free school meals are available to children of families who are in receipt of:

• Income Support
• Jobseekers Allowance (income based)
• Employment and Support Allowance (income based)
• Guarantee Credit (the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit) 
• Universal Credit (UC)
  •  From 1 April 2018, UC claims will only be eligible for free school meals if the total net earned incme is under £7,400 per year OR if the child was eligible for a free school meal on 01/04/18 
  •  Where the child was eligible fr a free school meal on 01 April 2018, they will remain entitled to a free school meal  regardless of any change in parental income until they finish the phase of education they are in (primary or secondary) as at 31 March 2023
  •  Any child who becomes eligible for a free school meal between 01 April 2018 and 31 March 2023 will remain entitled to a free school meal  regardless of any change in parental income until they finish the phase of education they are in (primary or secondary) as at 31 March 2023
• Support under part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have a total annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
• We have temporarily extended free school meal eligibility to include some children of groups who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF). These groups are subject to a maximum household earnings threshold of £7,400 per annum. These groups are:
  • children of Zambrano carers;
  • children of families with no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights;
  • children of families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction.

• We are also temporarily extending eligibility to children of a subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. This group is not subject to a maximum household earnings threshold

Parents receiving Working Tax Credit for four weeks after their employment finishes are entitled to free school meals during that period.  This also applies to parents who start working less than 16 hours per week (please seek advice about this from the Benefits Agency)

The quickest way to apply for this is online using the following address https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/Free_school_meals_and_extra_pupil_premium_funds_for_schools

Thank you very much for your help and support with this.

If you have any queries about any of the above, please email info@parkgate.coventry.sch.uk