Free school meals give eligible students a daily allowance to use in the school canteen. 

The Department for Education gives extra funding to schools for every child that is entitled to free school meals.  This extra funding is called, pupil premium funding and is used by the school to provide extra teaching and learning resources. 

We may have students in school who are eligible for free school meals but have not applied.  We would like to help our families get the support they are entitled to and for the school to receive the extra pupil premium funding.

Who is eligible for free school meals?

Students whose parents receive one or more of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400
• 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’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190) 
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

HOW TO CHECK IF YOUR CHILD IS ELIGIBLE FOR FSM

Use this free online eligibility checker https://pps.lgfl.org.uk/ and follow the instructions. You will need your national insurance number when you check online.  If you need help, the school can carry out the check for you, but you need to give us your consent by completing this FSM authorisation form.

If you check online and your child is eligible, you will receive a certificate of eligibility.  Please email your certificate to Admin@fortismere.org.uk 

If you need any support  or if you have any questions please email admin@fortismere.org.uk for the attention of Ms Kidd and we will get back to you.