Financial Assistance

If you currently receive one of the following benefits you may also be eligible to receive free school meals: 

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, 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 

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 

• The guarantee 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  

From April 2018, the criteria used to determine free school meals entitlement changed to reflect the introduction of universal credit and the phasing out of other benefits. All students in receipt of free school meals from Sunday 1st April 2018 will, assuming they are still in education, be entitled to receive a free school mean until March 2025 whilst Universal Credit is rolled out. 

The system for applying for Free School Meals is straightforward. Please visit Hertfordshire County Council's website Free School Meals page here to check your eligibility and to then apply if eligible. Your application will be processed within seven days. Alternatively r phone the customer service centre on 0300 123 4048 and the rest will be done for you. 

For any further enquiries or information about financial assistance, please contact Mrs C Beavis, Assistant Headteacher,  01923 284169 or email enquiries@scd.herts.sch.uk .

Other educational benefits arising from the above include assistance with: 

• Music fees 

• Transport 

• Sporting bursaries

In cases of financial hardship, it is sometimes possible to access assistance towards music tuition fees. 

Applications should be made direct to the school. 

A bursary application form can be obtained from the Music Department (musicadmin@scd.herts.sch.uk).  A bursary must be approved before lessons can  be time-tabled. 

You may be aware of the government scheme  for the Pupil Premium (PP) which is additional funding given to schools for use in raising the attainment of disadvantaged children and in closing the achievement gap between them and their peers. At St Clement Danes we use this additional funding for a variety of things such as additional support for English and maths, clubs and trips, one to one support for children as well as additional learning resources as and when required. Research shows that  children from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to under achieve; however, we want to reassure you that we do everything possible to ensure this is not the case in our school.  

Your child will be eligible for PP funding if: 

• You are or have been in receipt of various benefits 

• Your child is or was eligible for free school meals at any time in the last 6 years 

• You are responsible for a looked after child 

• Your child is no longer looked after by a local authority by means of adoption 

• You are in the armed services

Parents are always contacted discretely and in  confidence about PP funding. Please contact Mrs C Beavis, Assistant Headteacher, if you have any queries about this.