Pupil Premium and Free School Meals
Claiming Free School Meals (FSMs) and Pupil Premium Funding
Although all children at OPI are entitled to Universal Free School meals ( All children in the UK are eligible from Reception to Year 2) it is important that parents/carers check to see if they are eligible for Pupil Premium funding.
If your child is eligible and you do not apply immediately when they start school, they will still get a free lunch in their infant years, but the school could miss out on up to three years of pupil premium funding.
The pupil premium is a government payment to schools, to boost the learning of children from lower income backgrounds. It can make a very large difference for schools. For example, in 2025/2026, it will be £1,515 per year for primary students, and £1,075 for secondary students.
The B&NES Free School Meals Eligibility Checking service has a Free School Meals web page on the B&NES website with a link to an online benefit related free school meal application form which can be found using the following link:
Apply for free school meals | Bath and North East Somerset Council
Your child is eligible for benefit-related free school meals (and therefore, their school will receive the pupil premium) if they are attending a state school in Bath and North East Somerset, and you are receiving one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit (if your annual net earned income is £7,400 or less, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods
- Income Support
- Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
If you have applied for Universal Credit, your child will only become eligible for free school meals when you receive your first Universal Credit payment.
