Free School Meals – are you and your child missing out?

For every child registered for Free School Meals at Merchants’ Academy the Government will provide additional funding which will enable the Academy to help children from lower income families do their very best. This funding, called a Pupil Premium, is £488 per student this year which will go towards enhancing your child’s education by providing additional resources, 1:1 tuition and subsidising music lessons and trips and visits.

If you are eligible to qualify for free school meals we need you to register as soon as possible – it is not difficult and Mrs. O’Neill (Student Support) will help you if you need any further advice. You could save more than £350 per year on the cost of your child’s school lunch and, in addition, the Academy will benefit from the £488. There is no reason not to register – even if your child chooses to bring a packed lunch and not take the free school meal as long as you qualify and are registered, the Academy still gets the £488 extra. Registering for free school meals is confidential and because all our students use their card to get their food no-one else will know.

We are very fortunate at the Academy to have such a choice of hot and cold nutritious meals provided and you can check out what your child might choose from the menus which are on our website: Restaurant

You can register your child for Free School Meals if you get any of these benefits:

• 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 Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

 • Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190

 • Working Tax Credit ‘run-on’ – the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Register now so that we don’t all miss out!

You can download and complete the forms by clicking on the link below or you can collect them from Reception. Once you have completed the forms and have the proof of evidence you can bring it in and see Mrs. O’Neill.

Free School Meals Registration Form