Free school meals
All children attending Tower Hamlets primary schools will be eligible to receive free school meals. Research has proven that there is a clear link between good nutrition and strong academic performance. By providing healthy and nutritious meals using fresh ingredients it ensures that your child is well nourished and ready to learn to their full potential. Parents will need to make an application to receive free school meals. The information you provide in your application will also be used to see if your child’s school can access additional funding for your child in the form of the Pupil Premium.
You can apply online at: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ benefits and follow the link to Benefit Forms to apply for free school meals.
The headteacher will also discuss this with you when you are arranging for your child to start school.
Pupil premium
The school that your child attends will be able to claim the pupil premium if you receive one of the following:
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• An income-related employment
and support allowance
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
• The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit ‘run-on’
- the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
This gives schools an additional £600 per child to spend on your child’s education so it is important that you complete an application.
School clothing grant
If you live in Tower Hamlets, help with school clothing is available for some children transferring to secondary school at age 11 only.
Grants currently worth £110 are available. Families must be receiving certain types of financial support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), such as Income Support.
An application form is available on the internet at: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/benefits Follow the link to School Clothing Grants and Vouchers. Applications must be made between June and September.