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Pupil Premium

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Every year, parents are invited to apply online for free school meals.  If your entitlement to free school meals is no longer valid, you will need to re-register.

 
Changes for the 2026 to 2027 academic year
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit attending these schools will be entitled to receive a free meal.
We have made this a legal requirement through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 and intend to lay additional regulations extending this duty to maintained nursery schools.
Going forward, there will be 2 categories of benefits-based free school meals:
  • Targeted FSM, which continues to be based on the existing threshold, covering pupils who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
  • Expanded FSM, a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit
 
Ever 6 FSM Cohort
Pupils who are, or have been, eligible for FSM over the last 6 years are part of the ‘Ever 6’ FSM cohort. This is used for disadvantage funding and accountability purposes. Following the expansion of FSM, Ever 6 FSM will be based on targeted FSM.
 
Who is eligible for benefits based free school meals
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, the government are expanding FSM eligibility to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings. Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits: 
  • Universal Credit
  • support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal where both:
  • a claim for this support has been made
  • their eligibility has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority 
 
Households may also be entitled to a meal if they:
 
Registering is really quick and easy – if you think you qualify, check online at https://pps.lgfl.org.uk/ or contact the school for assistance.
 
Please note that schools/local authorities do not set the qualifying criteria for free school meals and we are unable to waive them. Any change to the criteria is a matter for central government.
 
If you think you may be entitled to free school meals and you have not registered, please provide your child with a packed lunch until such time as your eligibility is approved. Please be aware that we are unable to backdate claims for free school meals.
 
If you would like help registering your child, please contact the school office.  Alternatively, please fill in the form below and return to us.
 
The Mayor of London has extended funding so that every primary school aged child will continue to receive free school meals for as long as he is Mayor of London (currently to May 2028).
 
Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you have any queries or need assistance checking your eligibility.

 

We cannot backdate claims for Free School Meals to cover unpaid dinner money, or to refund any dinner money paid prior to the date of a successful application.

Change of circumstances

You must remember to tell us if you have any changes to your income or household. For example, you must tell us if

  • your benefits stop 
  • you start to get Working Tax Credit
  • your child changes school 
  • your child leaves school 
  • you change your address

If you do not tell us of any changes in your circumstances, you may have to pay for any taken school meals that your child was not entitled to.

Appealing against the free school meals eligibility criteria

The qualifying criteria for free school meals is set by Central Government.  Any change to the criteria must be raised via your Member of Parliament.

Pupil premium

This is additional funding that your child’s school can claim.  It is available for any child who qualifies for free school meals due to their family income.

The money is used by the school to help to provide more support to the children, to help develop children’s academic progress, their self-esteem or their social and emotional skills.

For each child registered, the school will receive:

  • £1550 for pupils in reception through to Year 6
  • £2690 for pupils who are in care or who have left local authority care through adoption/special guardianship order/child arrangements order/residence order
  • £360 for pupils where either parent is a serving member of the armed forces or has been in service during the child’s education 

Some of the ways we use the pupil premium fund at Field End Juniors:

  • Additional adults in the classroom to develop confidence and expertise in writing
  • Small group tuition to boost pupils’ academic attainment
  • Teacher professional development to ensure children receive the best possible education
  • Healthy snacks
  • Subsidies on trips and events
  • Interventions to support pupils socially and emotionally.

Please see the documentation below for more details.

Other support

  • Benefit Helpline: 0345 300 3900 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, and Saturday, 8am to 4pm)
  • JobCentre Plus: 0800 0556688 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm).

Key Documents

 
Pupil Premium statement 2025-2028 with part B review.docx.pdf

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