Culgaith C of E School is dedicated to delivering the best education for each and every child and we endeavour to do so everyday. However, we can do even better with a little support from parents to help each and every child.

Registering for free school meals can benefit your child and the school.

Your child could be entitled to £1,300 worth of extra support and opportunities as well as

• Free school trips
• Free school meals, worth up to £400 per year.

What is Pupil Premium and how does it relate to Free School Meals?

The Pupil Premium was introduced in 2011 and it can be funded to schools to work with pupils who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years.

It could really help the school and the opportunities and support Culgaith can offer your child.

If your child is eligible for free school meals, please register now to ensure your child does not miss out. 

We will receive approx. £1,300 for every child registered for Free School Meals from the Government, providing us with a very important boost to school funds.  This will allows us to provide extra support such as extra tuition, learning assistants or after-school clubs.   If you register this year then we will receive the Pupil Premium next year.

How will this benefit my child?

Although the school as a whole will benefit from receiving this extra funding, we will use this funding to provide targeted support and provision to individual children who we know will benefit from additional provision. 

Reasons for registering

1. our child will have access to a varied menu, providing nutritious food and it represents a saving of about £400 per year and/or
2.  In addition, the school receives an extra payment from the government, based on its numbers of Free School Meals Pupils.

Please also register, even if your child is currently entitled to Universal Free School Meals (i.e. in Foundation Stage or Key Stage 1), as the school only receives funding from the government for each child registered for Free School Meals.

Does my child have to eat a school meal if I register?

While it is recommended your child eats a school meal, due to the nutritional value it provides, this is optional – we would ask though that you register regardless of whether or not they want a meal so we can receive this funding.

No one will know you have registered and it will not affect any other benefits you are claiming if you are doing so.

Eligibility criteria

The GOV.UK website explains that a child may be eligible for free school meals (FSM) if their parents are in receipt of any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, provided the parents are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
• Working Tax Credit run-on, which is paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax credit
• Universal Credit

Children may also get FSM if they receive any of these benefits directly, instead of through a parent. 

Infant pupils

All pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 are eligible for FSM. 

Nursery

The advice above explains that a child may also be eligible for FSM if:

• Their parent gets any of the above benefits
• They are under compulsory school age, and
• They are in full-time education

How to Apply:

Parents must apply for free school meals regardless of whether or not they take them at ...