Pupil Premium and Free School Meals

What is pupil premium funding?

Pupil premium funding from the government is given to schools to help pupils reach their full potential, regardless of their background or financial situation. It’s provided for pupils who:

• Are registered for free school meals
• Have been registered for free school meals at any point in the past 6 years

At Weatherhead High School we receive an extra £1050 per child (for the 2023/24 financial year) for every eligible student who is registered for free school meals.  This extra money could make a real difference to the quality of education we offer.

For example, we’ve previously used pupil premium funding for:

• Educational provision/resources
• Academic interventions
• Wellbeing and self-esteem building interventions
• Subsidising educational trips and visits
• Subsidising music tuition

Is my child eligible for free school meals?

 Your child might be eligible if you access:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on
• Universal Credit, provided you have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400 (£616.67 per month)

What are the free school meal options?

There is a daily meal deal to the value of the free meal entitlement including a choice of sandwiches, a hot meal of the day, jacket potatoes, pizza, vegetarian options, pasta bar and salad bar.

Does my child have to eat the free school meals?

No. Students who are registered for free school meals don’t have to eat them. If you’re eligible but you want your child to have packed lunches you should still register because the school will receive the funding which can support your child in other ways.

How do I register?

You only need to register once at each school your child attends. If your child is already in receipt of free school meals you do not need to take any further action.

You no longer have to apply to the local authority.  You can either register directly online at http://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/sims-wirral or we can now do this on your behalf, you simply need to provide us with some information including your name, date of birth, national insurance number (or national asylum seekers number) and address as well as the name(s) and date(s) of birth of the children you wish to register.

The process is simple and quick.  If your child is eligible to receive free school meals because you are in receipt of Universal Credit, there is transitional protection in place whilst it is being rolled out so they will continue to be eligible for free school meals until the end of their phase of secondary education even if your circumstances change.  For exceptions please refer to www.gov.uk and search free school meals.

If you would like us to register on your behalf please complete a registration enquiry form by following this link www.weatherheadhigh.co.uk/fsm or request a form from the Student Services Office or Reception and return to school as soon as possible.

What happens next?

Once we have submitted an eligibility registration we are notified whether you are eligible for pupil premium and free school meals or not and we will let you know.  Your child will be able to receive free school meals straight away and our caterers will add the daily entitlement to your child’s card for them to use in the canteen.  Please note that cards are re-set daily and balances do not accumulate so it is in your child’s best interest to use their entitlement each day. The current daily value of free school meals is £3.36.

Pupil premium is allocated to schools on an annual basis.

More information

For more information about pupil premium go to https://weatherheadhigh.co.uk/about-us/pupil-premium, which contains details of how the pupil premium has been spent in the past academic year and how it will be spent this year.

If you have any questions or specific concerns, please contact us.