If you are in receipt of certain state benefits, work in the armed services, or have adopted a child from care, then you may qualify for the Pupil Premium grant. The Pupil Premium grant entitles your child to free school meals, discounts on school events and priority for a number of extra-curricular clubs. It also provides the school with additional money which we use to offer curriculum support and enrichment opportunities for our children.

Some of the benefits currently on offer are:

• Free ukulele lessons in Year 4.
• Priority access to some before and after-school clubs, such as Go-Kart Club and Science Club.
• Discounts on school trips.
• Free or discounted entry to Coleridge Families events, such as the Fireworks display in November and the Summer Fair in June.
• Curriculum enrichment days, such as the Science Day and the Highgate Maths Masterclasses.
• Free or discounted books and DVDs (subject to availability).
• Free entry to parenting classes.

In 2014, the government introduced Universal Infant Free School Meals for all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. Though this initiative was very warmly welcomed, it unfortunately removed the incentive for many parents to sign up to the Pupil Premium grant. Since 2014 therefore, numbers of those applying for the grant have significantly dropped off. This has reduced the amount of money coming into the school, which has in turn impacted on the opportunities we can offer our children.

Finding out if you are eligible for the Pupil Premium grant is very straight forward and the application can be complete online using the FSM Eligibility Checker. It takes less than 5 minutes and only requires a few basic details, including your National Insurance number.

Please click here to check if you are eligible. Every successful application means extra funding for the school, and for your child.