Free School Meals - FSM
Pupils in Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a school meal at no charge under the Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM) programme. School meals are available to Key Stage 2 pupils at a cost of £2.75 per day or at no cost to those in receipt of a free school meal (FSM) entitlement.
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.
Qualifying benefits
The current criteria for claiming free school meals are as follows:
• Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based)
• 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
Registering for Free School meals (FSM)
It is still important that parents who qualify, register for free school meals - even parents of pupils in Foundation, Year 1 or Year 2. This is important to the school because pupils eligible for FSM attract Pupil Premium, which is worth £1,320 a year per pupil. This money is spent on supporting those children.
Please see Dawn in the office to discuss the matter or click here to find out how to apply.
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.
Qualifying benefits
The current criteria for claiming free school meals are as follows:
• Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based)
• 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
Registering for Free School meals (FSM)
It is still important that parents who qualify, register for free school meals - even parents of pupils in Foundation, Year 1 or Year 2. This is important to the school because pupils eligible for FSM attract Pupil Premium, which is worth £1,320 a year per pupil. This money is spent on supporting those children.
Please see Dawn in the office to discuss the matter or click here to find out how to apply.
Pupil Premium

The Government believes that the Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM), the children of Armed Forces personnel and their peers, by ensuring that funding, to tackle disadvantage, is targeted at the pupils who need it most.
At Hathern all members of staff and governors are committed to narrowing the gap between vulnerable children and their peers.
We all accept responsibility for ‘socially disadvantaged’ pupils and aim to meet their pastoral, social and academic needs within the school environment to ensure good progress in line with national expectations.
The pupil premium plays a vital part in this. At our school, provision will be made through:
Funding will be used for:
Governors will monitor how the Pupil Premium is spent and will measure the impact of the provision annually. Click the image above to read our Pupil Premium Statement for 2021-24.
At Hathern all members of staff and governors are committed to narrowing the gap between vulnerable children and their peers.
We all accept responsibility for ‘socially disadvantaged’ pupils and aim to meet their pastoral, social and academic needs within the school environment to ensure good progress in line with national expectations.
The pupil premium plays a vital part in this. At our school, provision will be made through:
- Supporting pupils’ access to the curriculum
- Providing support and intervention when appropriate
- Financial support for extra-curricular activities
Funding will be used for:
- Learning support within the classroom – 1-1 and in small groups
- Providing training for adults working with Pupil Premium children
- Financial support towards school trips and activities
Governors will monitor how the Pupil Premium is spent and will measure the impact of the provision annually. Click the image above to read our Pupil Premium Statement for 2021-24.