Free school meals and extra funding for your child’s education

Eligible children:

• Every child gets free school meals from when they start school, up until they finish year 2
• From year 3, only children who are signed up to the pupil premium will receive free school meals

Even though every child gets free school meals until the end of year 2, it’s still important to apply as your child's school will receive extra funding which it can spend on things like extra staff, books or school trips.

My child isn't eligible

If your child doesn't qualify for free school meals, you can find out about how much they cost on our school meals web page.

To qualify for free school meals for your child you must receive one of the following:

• Income support
• Income-based job seeker’s allowance
• Income-related employment and support allowance
• Child Tax Credit - provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income that does not exceed £16,190
• The guarantee element of the State Pension Credit

To apply, you need to complete a free school meals and pupil premium application form (PDF document) and return it to your child's school.

Keep in mind that even if your child is in years 1 and 2, and automatically receives free school meals, you should still complete the application if you qualify. Signing up means that your child's school will receive extra funding to help with your child's education.

Some 3 and 4 year-olds are eligible to receive extra funding for their nursery or pre school.

Eligible children

To be eligible children must already be receiving free childcare for 3 and 4 year-olds at a nursery or pre school.

You must also be receiving one of the following:

• 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 guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit. This only applies if you're not entitled to Working tax credit and your annual income is less than £16,190
• Working tax credit run on - this is paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

• Been looked after by the local authority for 1 day or more
• Been adopted
• Left care under a special guardianship or residence order

How do I apply?

• Your childcare provider will give you an application form to complete
• The information in the form will be sent to us
• If you're eligible the additional funding will be sent straight to your childcare provider

How can the funding be used?

The childcare provider how the funding can be used. It can be used to pay for:

• Trips and visits
• Extra members of staff

The funding can't be used to reduce any costs you pay to the provider for additional services. 

Making sure children are benefiting

The childcare provider will share with you how your child is benefiting from the funding.

Ofsted will ask the childcare provider for evidence on how funding has made a difference to all the children who have received it. 

We will also visit your provider to support the delivery of the funding.

Find out more

If you would like to find out more please contact your childcare provider.

You can also contact the Early Years Childcare and Play Team by:

• Phone: 0118 908 8260
• email: earlyyears@wokingham.gov.uk