From 6 April 2010, children whose parents receive ONE or more of the following benefits will be entitled to receive free school meals (FSM):
If you are in receipt of any of the above benefits, please complete the application form below. You can also contact the Free School Meals section of Brighton and Hove Council on freeschoolmeals@brighton-hove.gov.uk or 01273 293497.
The current Free School Meal allowance is £2.30. Even if you intend to send your child to school with a packed lunch, you should apply for free school meals if you are eligible for them. This is because being registered for FSM will allow your child to claim additional financial support for other schemes that may become available from time to time.
If you are unsure whether you will qualify for free school meals then please see the Brighton & Hove City Council website, email Free School Meals or call the Free School Meals team on (01273) 293497. Further information can also be found on the flyer below:
If your child is entitled to free school meals, it is very important that you claim it – even if you do not intend to use it. Under new government regulations, free school meals will be used as the basis for a range of other funds that can be targeted to help your child individually.
Children losing their FSM dinner card will be issued with a new one at the canteen help desk. The first replacement card is free but after that, there is a charge of £3.50 for each replacement card.
The DfE have permanently extended free school meal eligibility to children in all households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to maximum income thresholds. No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) applies to a person who is 'subject to immigration control' in the UK and has no entitlement to welfare benefits or public housing. If you believe you are eligible please complete the application form linked below and send it to school@varndean.co.uk
The Pupil Premium is additional funding for publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils of all abilities and to close the gaps between them and their peers. Secondary schools receive £1035 for each eligible student.
Each school must publish a strategy for the school’s use of the Pupil Premium.
For the current academic year, schools must include:
For the previous academic year, we must include:
Numerous studies have found that the most effective use of the Pupil Premium is to ensure consistently great teaching, every lesson, every day. We strongly believe that if we have an expertly trained teaching staff, who are leaders of their own subjects, reflective and engaged in research about what makes the most difference to all student outcomes and staff are well-resourced, supported and held to account, then all students will do well.
The tiered approach taken by Varndean is recommended in the EEF Guide to Pupil Premium (2021) which suggests the following prioritisation of Pupil Premium funding:
Tier 1: Quality First Teaching
To facilitate excellent, inclusive classroom teaching. Spending on improving teaching might include professional development, training, support and recruitment and retention. Ensuring an effective teacher is in front of every class, and that every teacher is supported to keep improving the inclusivity of their teaching, is the key ingredient of a successful school and should rightly be the top priority for Pupil Premium spending.
Tier 2: Targeted Academic Support
Evidence consistently shows the positive impact that targeted academic support can have, including on those who are not making good progress across the spectrum of achievement. Considering how classroom teachers and support staff can provide targeted academic support, including how to link structured one-to-one or small group support to classroom teaching, is a key component of our Pupil Premium strategy.
Tier 3: Wider strategies
Wider strategies relate to the most significant non-academic barriers to success in school, including attendance, behaviour and social and emotional support. We place high priority on students having access to digital devices, resources and revision guides to enable all students to access school work/prep at home, placing no student at a disadvantage. Bespoke support for families is available as a contingency fund should families need this to remove barriers to learning for their child.
A copy of the latest Pupil Premium statement can be found on our Policies page.
Pupil Premium Successes 2022-2023
Please click here to see a comprehensive list of the successes this year.
