Free School Meals are different from the universal daily fruit and free school meals provided for every child in Reception through to the end of year 2. Every child in receipt of Free School Meals due to low income brings in additional funding (the Pupil Premium) to school which we use to go some way to limiting the gap in educational opportunities for poor children in our community. The educational grant continues for six years after children cease to be entitled to the meal, recognising that families can often be in an out of work and often on low pay.

We will provide a one-off uniform grant to all children joining the school who are in receipt of free school meals, this is funded through the Pupil Premium. There is also financial support for charged-for activities in school like clubs, visitors, trips and music lessons.

To apply for free school meals complete the online application our Local Authority at Cheshire West and Chester Council.

To support families whose children don't receive a free school meal, we ensure families are alerted when their account gets low and goes below £0. Once a debt goes over £10, we inform families that we will no longer serve a routine lunchtime meal and request a meeting taking place in school if they are experiencing hardship. This prevents folk getting into unmanageable debt and we can explore what people might be entitled to or if we can otherwise help. We would never let a child go hungry but would first contact the family and request a packed lunch be sent in. 

We charge for most clubs outside the school day as these are provided by external providers. External providers bring different expertise and enrich our curriculum offer beyond what our primary school teaching staff can provide. If your child is interested in developing their gifts and talents before or after school and cost is a problem, we encourage you to apply for a bursary.

We will support any family in genuine hardship with funding fully or in part the costs of trips, visits and visitors to school. We ask that when a voluntary contribution is requested, you tick the box on the form to apply for a bursary and we will get a form to you. Our policy for Charging and Lettings (which contains an application form for a bursary) can be found in the Policies.  

We can provide bursaries for children for activities in school where the school is permitted to make a charge. Examples include the bed and board on a residential visit, music lessons and optional before and after school clubs. Families requesting a bursary are asked to complete a short form, outlining basic information such as whether they are in receipt of benefits (e.g. free school meals, working tax credit) or on a low income.

See Policies for our policy for charging and letting and an application form for a bursary.

Families in receipt of a bursary will receive invoices from providers (e.g. Sports clubs, Music or French teachers) directly from the provider and should pass these f.a.o. the school business manager, headteacher or deputy headteacher to pass for payment promptly.

Very occasionally, families can find themselves in extreme hardship and fall through the safety net of our benefit system. We want to be useful as well as kind to everyone. We have a hardship fund which has been provided by the Church of England via St Wilfrid's Davenham. The fund is not infinite but funds may be available for unusual situations where other sources of support are not available. Please email or call the headteacher and arrange a confidential chat with Mrs Rutter-Brown or Mrs McHugh as we may be able to help a little.