Sandridgebury Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 6DB
Free School Meals
What you should do if you would like to apply for Free School Meals?
More detailed information on free school meals and school support can be found in the links above. Parents and Carers have to apply for Free School Meals through Hertfordshire County Council. The School Finance Office is always happy to help if a parent/carer has any queries regarding Free School Meals, but they will be unable to apply on Parent and Carers' behalf.
The quickest and most effective way to apply for Free School Meals is via the Hertfordshire County Council website. We can help and if you contact the school, you can access the application here - it can be completed within 20 minutes. The preferred method for applying is through the online application form that can be found here (you will need to click on Children in Year 3 or Older).
If Parents or Carers have any other queries, they should contact the Education Benefits team either by email or by calling 0300 123 4048.
Alternative ways to apply are shown below:
Smartphone: using the LookingLocal app available from app stores.
Digital TV: The Community Channel – Press the red button.
Or, apply using the Customer Service Centre open hours: www.hertsdirect.org/contact/
If you have any queries or questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Jarvis or our Pupil Premium Eligible Learner Lead Miss K Richardson
Pupil Premium Grant and Free School Meals letter
Free School Meals - Pupil Premium Eligible Students
This is funding given to schools for students who are registered for free school meals. This can make a significant difference to the quality of provision a school is able to provide and subsequently contributes to the life chances of our students. Details of how we spend this money and support provided to students can be found on the school website: Pupil Premium Grant StatementIt is extremely important that we do all that we can to ensure that eligible students access their entitlement. The first thing that families can do is make sure they access their entitlement from the Government by registering their child for free school meals. A common misconception is that you must be on benefits to claim. Children are entitled to receive free school meals if they or their parents receive any of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit, provided they have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400 (£616.67 per month)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, provided they are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by HMRC
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
If you would like to submit an application for free school meals you can do so directly with Hertfordshire County Council by clicking here. More information, including other methods for applying for free school meals, is available on the school website.
Free School Meals - NRPF (alternative option)
NRPF or No Recourse to Public Funds is a Government fund providing support for families who do not meet the eligibility requirements for FSM but have an income that meets means they require financial support and meets one of the thresholds below:
- £22,700 for families outside of London with 1 child
- £26,300 for families outside of London with 2 or more children
- £31,200 for families within London with 1 child
- £34,800 for families within London with 2 or more children
Whether or not a person will be considered within the London or the outside London threshold will be determined by the address of the family. This map shows the boroughs that form London.
NRPF Eligible groups
These groups include, but may not be limited to children of:
- Zambrano carers
- Families who have 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
- Families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction
- A subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Chen carers
- Families holding a BN(O) passport
- Spousal visa holders
- Work visa holders
- Student visa holders
- Those with no immigration status
If you meet the criteria above, please follow this link to our website, complete the application form and provide evidence of your income for example a payslip or P60.
For further information and assistance contact Mrs Jarvis or our Pupil Premium Eligible Learner Lead Miss K Richardson.
School Support
Support directly from STAGS
Our PTA organise and run a fantastic source of nearly new uniform from which we can offer quality uniform at a significantly reduced cost. There are frequent PTA Uniform Sales during the course of the academic year as published in STAGSLink and our school calendar. If you have any questions about these sales, please contact Mrs Flint. For all queries about support for students with regard to Pupil Premium or Free School Meals, please contact Mrs Jarvis or our Pupil Premium Eligible Learner Lead Miss K Richardson.
We can also send Trussell Trust Foodbank vouchers to families in need. Please contact your child's Director of Learning if you need Foodbank vouchers and include the number of people living in the household and their ages.
The school receives additional funding for every student who is registered as receiving free school meals and this is used to support these students in a variety of ways in their education. For example, school trips to enhance student learning, music tuition to provide an alternative learning perspective, clubs and interventions to support classroom learning and teaching, learning resources such as revision guides, textbooks and other equipment, and help with travel costs and uniform.
