Free School Meals

Free School Meals 

When you register your children for Free School Meals, the College receives a sum of money from the government for each child, called the Pupil Premium. In the financial year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, Pupil Premium funding is £955 for each eligible secondary aged pupil. This money is used to provide a range of educational benefits for pupils across the school, which can include assistance with paying for extra-curricular activities and visits, and music lessons. Even if you do not wish your child to claim free lunches, by registering for them, you will allow the school to claim the associated Pupil Premium.  No other benefits that you may be claiming are affected by this.

Claiming Free School Meals has never been easier; you simply need to complete an on-line application form provided by Cambridgeshire County Council.  You do not need to provide any paper proof of benefit.  The system will automatically check your child's entitlement to Free School Meals.

Apply online using this link: Free School Meals Application. or download the application form via the link on the left of this screen.

We can also help you to do this at school. Once approved, Cambridgeshire County Council will check that you continue to qualify for Free School Meals on a regular basis, using the Secure Electronic Checking System.  There is no need to reapply at the end of the school year. If you haven’t already registered with us for Free School Meals and think you may be eligible, please use the link above. If you are already registered with your Cambridgeshire Primary school then that will automatically transfer over to us. If you are from an out-of-county Primary or a private school, you will need to register online as above. Once registered, this will stay in place as long as your children attend Cambourne Village College.

Your children are entitled to Free School Meals if you receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seekers’ Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit – so long as you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual income (as assessed by HM revenue and Customs) does not exceed £16,190 or Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Universal Credit

Pupils who receive free school meals have £2.35 placed in their biometric account at the beginning of lunchtime (12:40 – 1:20pm) every school day. This can only be spent at lunchtime only in the canteen. Any purchases made at breaktime, or over the FSM allowance, will require funds to be added to the account by the parents and carers. At the end of the day, any remaining money is removed from the account. The children cannot be identified as receiving free school meals when they use their account; the process is completely private.

Please contact Mrs Vanessa Popplewell, in confidence if you have any queries or would like help the FSM application, on 01954 284000 or email vpopplewell@cambournevc.org

Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium Grant – Free School Meals/Ever 6/Pupil Premium Plus (was LAC/AFC) Service Child/Catch-Up Funding

Pupil Premium Grant is a sum of money given to schools each year by the Government to improve the attainment of disadvantaged children. This is based on research showing that children from low income families perform less well at school than their peers. The pupil premium is intended to directly benefit the children who are eligible, helping to diminish the difference between them and their peers.

Students receive Pupil Premium if they are in receipt of Free School Meals or have qualified for free school meals at any point in the past six years, classed as Ever 6.  The College also receive an enhanced premium for Looked After Children (those who have been in care or adopted) this is now known as Pupil Premium Plus.  The Service Premium is a smaller fund available to assist the school to provide pastoral care to the children of armed forces personnel. 

The College receive Catch up Premium to support year 7 pupils whose performance at Key Stage 2 in either Reading or Mathematics suggests that they may struggle to access the Key Stage 3 curriculum in full.  Schools can choose how to spend their pupil premium money, in the best way to benefit their students.

Cambourne Village College: Summer School 2023