Be Kind to Others  is part of our school Ethos.  We want to support our families and pupils further by ensuring you receive additional funding for additional support with education and enrichment activities during your time at Desford Community Primary School (if you meet the qualification criteria detailed below).  

What is The Pupil Premium?

The Pupil Premium is extra government money which is paid to schools to support children’s learning and development. We can support you in finding out if your child could receive the extra money.  Our school spend the Pupil Premium money in a variety of different ways to ensure that eligible children benefit from this funding.  For example:

- Exciting new learning activities and opportunities to widen their life experiences

- Additional training for staff that benefits the support or activities provided

- Extra tools, materials and equipment to help with learning in school or at home

- Free or subsidised access to before and after school clubs, activities and music lessons

- Access to some free school uniform

Who could benefit from this money?

Children from reception (EYFS) to year 11 may be eligible if they:

If your child could claim for FSM but takes a packed lunch to school, it is still important that you tell us and register for FSM.  This will enable us to ensure that you receive The Pupil Premium funding.

How do I apply for Pupil Premium Funding and Free School Meals?

It is vital that all parents that qualify for free school meals still register their child with the local authority because the additional funding means that these children can benefit from additional school support, a reduction on the cost of the school uniform and class trips. Please ask the school office for more information, or contact the County Council direct by the following options:

• Send an E-mail to freeschoolmeals@leics.gov.uk 
• Request an application form on 0116 3056588 or 0116 3057093
• Apply via telephone on 0116 3056588 or 0116 3057093 
• Fax  0116 3055785

Download the application form (here)

Send the completed form to:

School Food Support Service
Room 400
County Hall
Glenfield
Leics
LE3 8RF

Do I qualify to claim Free School Meals?

Families of children and young people in full-time education at any school maintained by Leicestershire County Council may be entitled to claim free school meals, providing they receive a qualifying benefit.

What are the criteria for qualifying for Free School Meals?

The current criteria for claiming free school meals are as follows:

• Income Support (IS)
• Employment and Support Allowance (Income Based)
• Child Tax Credit, provided the annual taxable income, as assessed by the Inland Revenue is not in excess of £16,190.  Families who also receive an award of Working Tax Credit do not qualify to claim for free school meals
• The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Children who receive Income Support (IS) or Income Based Jobseekers Allowance in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals

Temporary qualification for Free School Meals

From 1^st May 2009 where a parent has been entitled to Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after their employment ceases, or after they start to work less than 16 hours per week, they will be eligible to claim free school meals over that period.

Claimants MUST complete a hard copy application form and send it to us with a copy of their Tax Credit Decision Notice, which will be issued immediately by HMRC to a claimant who has notified them that they have stopped working.  Applications will not be accepted without this document and free school meals authorisation will not be granted prior to the date of application, or extended beyond the end date shown on the Tax Credit Decision Notice.  In order to qualify for free school meals after that date the claimant will need to be in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits listed in the previous section, and evidence of this provided

Pupil Premium pre-application

Sometimes it can take time for Free School Meals applications to be processed by Leicestershire County Council.  Families who are new to the school (with new children coming into EYFS or having only recently moved into the area) may be unaware of the procedures and timescales for applying and benefitting from FSM/Pupil Premium. 

The letter below is for families to indicate their eligibility to schools whilst their formal application is being processed.  This will enable some of the benefits of The Pupil Premium to be accessed in advance of the application being approved (e.g. free school uniform).

If possible, we will provide you with some free school uniform before you start school.  The items we will provide you with are:

 - 1 x sweatshirt

 - 1 x fleece

 - 2 x polo shirts

 - 1 x full PE kit (including PE bag)

 - 1 x book bag 

You can view this kit and the sizes available by visiting the uniform ordering section of our website. Whilst parents would normally order this direct from this link, we keep a stock of uniform in school for children who receive The Pupil Premium funding.  There is a shortcut to this page below.