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• Free school meals eligibility criteria information for parents and carers

  Tue 31 Mar 2020 Sue Gleaves
  FREE SCHOOL MEALS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

   

  Eligibility and how to apply for free school meals

  • All pupils in reception, year 1 or year 2 are automatically entitled to a school meal under the Government's Universal Free Meals policy
  • If your child is in any of those school years and you think you meet the criteria, we recommend that you still apply. This will mean your child's school does not miss out on important funding to support your child (pupil premium). It may also mean your child will continue to receive free meals after the end of year 2
  • Older children/young people may not have to pay for school lunches if you as their parent or carer meet the eligibility criteria. This also generates the Pupil Premium which gives schools additional funding

  Eligibility criteria

  Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guaranteed 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 four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

  Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

  Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:

  • Younger than the compulsory age for starting school
  • In full-time education

  If your child is eligible for free school meals, they will remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they are in on 31 March 2022.

  Pupils who do not qualify for free school lunches must be charged the same amount for the same quantity of the same item.

  How to apply for free school meals

  • Apply online for an eligibility check
  • Contact the school that your child attends

  FREE SCHOOL MEALS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

   

  Eligibility and how to apply for free school meals

  • All pupils in reception, year 1 or year 2 are automatically entitled to a school meal under the Government's Universal Free Meals policy
  • If your child is in any of those school years and you think you meet the criteria, we recommend that you still apply. This will mean your child's school does not miss out on important funding to support your child (pupil premium). It may also mean your child will continue to receive free meals after the end of year 2
  • Older children/young people may not have to pay for school lunches if you as their parent or carer meet the eligibility criteria. This also generates the Pupil Premium which gives schools additional funding

  Eligibility criteria

  Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guaranteed 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 four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

  Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

  Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:

  • Younger than the compulsory age for starting school
  • In full-time education

  If your child is eligible for free school meals, they will remain eligible until they finish the phase of schooling (primary or secondary) they are in on 31 March 2022.

  Pupils who do not qualify for free school lunches must be charged the same amount for the same quantity of the same item.

  How to apply for free school meals

  • Apply online for an eligibility check
  • Contact the school that your child attends

   

• Letter to Parents/carers from the Headteacher

  Thu 19 Mar 2020 Sue Gleaves

  Thursday 19^th March 2020

   

  Dear members of the Polygon School community,

   

  You will have heard the announcement that schools will be closed for Friday 20^th March 2020 until further notice. You will have also heard that some schools will remain partially open to protect “the most vulnerable”.

  This means that from Monday 23^rd March, the Polygon school will remain partially open, but we may have to restrict those who come to school, to ensure that we have sufficient staff to look after the boys whilst they are with us.

   

  For this reason, I have drawn up a priority list of children who will be invited to school, as long as they are not showing any symptoms and the family they live with, is not self-isolating.

  All pupils have work set for them on the “Doddle”. The teachers who are not allowed in school, will be monitoring the “doddle” carefully and will be able to communicate with your child in this way.

   

  Most pupils have already taken work packs home from school.

   

  Some pupils who have not yet taken work home will receive a package from school in the post.

   

  Bernie, our school counsellor, will be making phone calls to all the boys she would usually see in school. Please expect a call from an unknown number during today for Bernie to speak to your child.

   

  Boys who are well, will be invited into school in the following order:

  • Boys whose parent/carers are working. This will allow adults to continue to go to work.
  • Boys whose families are involved with social services in any way.
  • Boys who would like to come to school!

  We will not be running a normal timetable. Instead, the staff will be organising activities which should be engaging. Those of you who have already spent two weeks self-isolating will appreciate the value of children being able to be in the company of other children.

   

  During today, I will seek clarity from the City Council to see if we can still use school transport.

   

  We are still seeking clarity from the examination boards concerning Year 11 exams. However, it is likely that we will need to share the coursework completed by the boys in the last four weeks in order to assess their grade level. We will talk to individual families directly about this.

   

  The school website, will be updated at 09.00hrs every morning.

   

  Please call NHS 111 if you are concerned about members of your family or yourself for medical advice.

   

  Above all, stay safe.

  Anne Hendon-John.

  Headteacher

• CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE

  Mon 16 Mar 2020 Sue Gleaves
  Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a rapidly changing situation; our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our children, parents/carers, staff and visitors.  We will make decisions following advice from Public Health England (daily briefing received at 2:30pm) and take any actions we can to minimise the risk of exposure to our children, their families and staff.  The UK government has moved from the ‘contain’ phase into the ‘delay’ phase.

  We will keep you updated by text, email, and the school website so please ensure we have your up-to-date contact details.

  What to do if you or your child falls ill at home

  The most common symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) are a new continuous cough and a temperature over 37.8.  For most people these symptoms will be mild.  If your child or anyone in your household has these symptoms, however mild, every person in your household must do the following:-

  • Stay at home for 7 days from the first day of the symptoms
  • Contact the school and let us know you/your child has these symptoms.  This will help us plan.
  • After 7 days, if you/your child feel better and no longer have a high temperature, your child can return to school.
  • If you/your child’s health have not improved or have worsened, and you have not already sought medical advice, contact NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk.  If you have no internet access you should call NHS 111.
  • A cough may persist for several weeks in some people despite the infection having cleared.  A persistent cough alone does not mean you/your child should continue to self-isolate for more than 7 days.