For every pupil on Free School Meals, our school gets £1,300. This is per pupil, per year! Last year we had funding of £138,600 to spend on your children this year. This is money that is spent on the children and which it has a direct and positive impact on their education.
We would like to make the benefits of Free School Meals status much clearer for you. Funding for schools based on Free School Meals has changed dramatically over the last year. Following our latest Governors meeting we would like to highlight what benefits you are eligible for if you apply and are successful:
1. You don’t actually have to eat the school dinners.
a. Some children/families are put off because they think that Free School Meals status means that they have to eat the school lunches. This is not true! Should you prefer to remain a packed or home lunch, that is absolutely fine. The school dinners will be there for you should you want them… but they are not compulsory.
2. Contributions towards school trips
a. Due to recent changes in funding, we are able to cover part of the cost of school trips for you with the Pupil Premium money. These trips help to enrich the curriculum for the children and we want to help with the cost.
3. Support with school uniform
a. We are able to use the Pupil Premium money to support you with the cost of school uniform. It is important that our pupils are dressed warmly, smartly and comfortably at school. It means they are able to concentrate on what they are here for… learning!
4. Cultural Experiences
a. Funding for Pupil Premium allows us to increase the number of cultural experiences that we can offer your children. Some have already been to visit an art museum this term. We have trips planned to see major West End productions – linked to Literacy – art galleries, the Royal Opera House, major London landmarks and the Olympic Park.
5. Music Tuition
a. This term we are looking into providing piano tuition for our pupils. For those qualifying for Free School Meals there may be the opportunity before Christmas to receive free music tuition and significant support for the cost of the instruments.
6. Significant support with the cost of residential trips
a. In Year 6 we offer a residential trip to Stubbers. If your child is eligible for Free School Meals we are able to pay a contribution towards the cost of the residential from the Pupil Premium fund.
WE WILL HELP YOU APPLY IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF YOUR ELIGIBILITY
Want more information? Come in for a chat and see Mrs Taylor
Benefits for everyone
So far we have been able to organize a number of opportunities for a significant number of children, a large number of whom are not Free School Meals eligible. The Pupil Premium has fantastic potential for supporting all of the pupils at Broadford Primary… which is why it is so important that we have as many eligible parents and families sign up as possible.
• Author visits – we have had many visits. Anthony Lishake, Mike Spoor, Petr Horacek, Tom Banks and Jeremy Strong have all spent time with the children. These high quality author/illustrator visits help to inspire the children’s love of reading and writing.
• Performances, Drama & Pantomime. Every winter and Summer we have an in school theatre performance for all the children. Groups of children will also be invited to go up to London to experience the magic of a West End performance. Pupils have visited Mathilda, War Horse and many others.
• After school clubs – without the Pupil Premium funding we would not be able to offer free clubs for all of our pupils. No child/family has to pay and they are open for all. Although the Pupil Premium is targeted at Free School Meal eligible children, everyone gets to benefit from the opportunities available.
• Resources for school – some of the Pupil Premium money is being invested in school resources that will benefit all pupils for years to come: the canopy over Pine and Mulberry; the EYFS garden; the pathway around the main field; the Year 1 sandpit; new lunchtime resources. These costs would be unaffordable were it not for the Pupil Premium.
Eligibility
In order to claim Free School Meals, you must receive one of the following:
• income support
• income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income related employment and support allowance (EAS IR)
• support under part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and whose annual income (as assessed by the Revenue and Customs) does not exceed £16,190
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
How to apply
Come in and see Mrs Taylor with your National Insurance number and date of birth. We will check your eligibility there and then.
or
1) Complete this application form (on the back of this letter) and sign the declaration and agreement and return the form by post to:
Free School Meals, Customer Services, London Borough of Havering, Public Advice and Service Centre (PASC), The Liberty Centre, Romford, RM1 3RL
2) To make a telephone application call 01708 433929 for immediate eligibility confirmation given using the Free School Meals Eligibility Checking Service and early start date for Free School Meals. The Free School Meals Officer will contact you if there are any queries about your eligibility and to confirm the FSM start date.
Yours sincerely,
Mr M Drakes
Headteacher
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