Parkhead Community Primary School

15th November 2011

Dear Parents and Carers

Did you know … just registering your child for Free School Meals means that the school gets extra money?

Register now to make sure we don’t miss out

The Government is giving money to schools to help children from lower income families do their very best. This funding is called a ‘Pupil Premium’.

For every child registered at Parkhead Primary it gets £488 this year.

With this money we could increase the opportunities for school visits and activities to stimulate the children’s learning as well as being able to increase our educational resources in school. If you are registered for Free School Meals you could also get reduced cost after school activities and help towards residential visits for your children.

Please register before Christmas to make sure your child and others in their class don’t miss out.

How does it work?

1. First, check if you qualify – it is not just if you are unemployed, so please
look at the list on the next page.

2. Registering is really quick and easy – if you think you qualify, contact Gateshead council on 0191 4333729 who will help you to register.

3. If you want your child to have a free, healthy meal at lunchtime that’s
great – they will get the free meal (saving you more that £350 a year), extra
benefits and the school gets £488 extra.

4. If you don’t want your child to have the school meals they can
continue as normal – as long as you qualify and are registered, the
school still gets £488 extra.

No one will know you have registered and it will not affect any other benefits you are claiming. We have enclosed an application form which you can send direct to the council or you can drop off at school and we will send it off for you if you prefer.

Please talk to us about registering your child today. 0191 433 4014 or 0191 433 4146.

Yours sincerely,

Mandy Wilson
Head of Business and Strategy

Do you qualify?
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

Pupils can also register for Free School Meals if they get any of these benefits themselves. Come and talk to us if you’re not sure.

Please keep the school office informed of your child's lunch choice on a termly basis. We would prefer that children stay on either packed lunch or meals each term so we can plan our seating arrangements and finances. Thank you for your cooperation.
Please find attached the form indicating your choice to the school office.
Download file
The latest school menus can be found on this website: http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Education%20and%20Learning/Schools/schoolmeals/ForParents/menus.aspx

How can my children receive school meals?
Your child, or children, may qualify for free school meals if you are able to meet the following criteria:

You or your partner must have a child or children for whom you receive child benefit who is in full time education, under 19 years of age and who attends a local authority school or sixth form.

You and your partner must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:

Income Support
Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA - IB)
Guarantee Pension Credit
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA Income Related)
Child Tax Credit - but not Working Tax Credit - and your income for Tax Credit purposes must be less than £16,190.00 (details are shown on your Tax Credit award notice)
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
If this applies to you, please complete our free school meals application form and return to the address shown.

If you satisfy the requirements for your child / children to receive Free School Meals, and submit the information required over the page, the school(s) that your child / children attend will be informed of this and Free Meals will be available immediately.

Parents can be sure that pupils who receive a free school meal are not singled out in any way.

Important

If you stop receiving one of the qualifying benefits; you stop being responsible for the child/children concerned; or your Tax Credit entitlement changes, you MUST inform the Council Benefit Section immediately.

To make an application for free school meals please select the link on the right of this page for one of our application forms.

Enquiries

Please contact us if you have any queries or require any further information on the right of this page:

Our opening hours: Monday - Thursday 8.00 am - 5.00 pm
Friday 8.00am - 4.30pm

The free school meals application form can be found on this website link:
http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Education%20and%20Learning/Schools/schoolmeals/ForParents/free.aspx

The school meal service ran a lunch theme day last week, the children loved it and ate really, really well!

Please find the new school dinner menu for this term. Click on the link below.
Download file