Financial Assistance/Free School Meals

It is our policy that all students should have full and free access to a broad and balanced curriculum, which ensures equality of opportunity to all students.  If Parents/Carers have difficulty in paying for an activity, and are in receipt of certain payments (see below list under Free School Meals), they should write in confidence to the Headteacher providing original (i.e. not photocopy) evidence, which will be returned as soon as possible. Support may be available via the Jenny Walker Fund, however with larger expenses this will usually be a percentage of the total cost rather than the full amount.

More information can be found in our Charging & Remissions Policy on our Policies page. Financial assistance is also available via the Settle Educational Foundation.

 

Free School Meals

Students whose parents/carers are in receipt of the following payments are entitled to free school lunch entitlement and the remission charges for board and lodgings on residential trips:

  • Universal Credit, (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
  • 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 you are also not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual household gross income that does not exceed £16,190 (as assessed by HMRC)
  • Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Children who receive any of the above benefits in their own right, are also entitled to Free School Meals.

There have been further extension to the Free School Meal availability, from April 2022. Please check the link to check availability. Written statements – Written questions, answers and statements – UK Parliament

Although some parents are uncomfortable with claiming for free school meals, we cannot stress enough that there is no way any other student will know that your child is having free school meals.  This is because we have a cashless catering system, where every student must scan their thumbprint to “pay” for their food, the total being debited from the student’s account.  No money changes hands as the accounts are topped up on-line by parents.  In this way, free school meal entitlement really is anonymous, and we would encourage every parent who is entitled to apply.

Students who qualify for free school meals, but whose families do not take up this opportunity are also missing out on extra educational support which the government fund to help them achieve their best.  The Pupil Premium is only paid to school if the student actually claims for free school meals.

Application forms are available below and should be posted to the Welfare Team in Northallerton (address on the form).  There is no need to discuss the matter with anyone at school; we will receive automatic notification from NYCC should your application be successful.

Free School Meals (FSM) application Years 3 to 13

For more information, you can telephone NYCC Welfare Team on 01609 533405.

Pupil Premium

Students who are adopted or who have a parent in the armed forces are also eligible for extra support at school, which the government fund to help them achieve their best.  The Pupil Premium helps schools to support the unique challenges these students can often face, however it is only paid to school if the student’s parents declare their child’s status (ie adopted or service) to the Headteacher.