Free School Meals/Pupil Premium
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 automatically receive universal infant free school meals (UIFSM). In addition to the UIFSM initiative, the Government operates a free school meal system to support children from lower income families, regardless of year group. Pupil Premium is a funding scheme which allows schools to access additional funding linked to the number of children claiming free school meals.
Qualifying criteria for eligibility for free school meals and pupil premium funding is:
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related 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 - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit
- Universal credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018, your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
It is therefore vital that parents who qualify for FSM apply, even if they do not wish to take up the offer of a free school meal.
Additional Help
Willow Grove offers additional assistance with school uniform, trips, clubs and homework books for those who qualify for Pupil Premium. Please contact the school for more information on 01234 581150 or by email
Full details of interventions and support offered in 2024-2025 year can be found in:
Pupil Premium Strategy 2024-2025
Further Information
For general information on free school meals and Pupil Premium please visit:
Bedford Borough Council’s Free school meals auto-enrolment
Department for Education’s Pupil Premium: Overview Guidance
