Support and resources available

Families Accessing Free School Meals

During this third national lockdown the government are not offering the national free school meal voucher scheme and schools are offering out hampers to families who usually have free school meals.

We are preparing hampers with enough food in for a fortnight. If you would like a hamper, or have a query regarding hampers, please email Kerry Alcock (kalcock@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk) if you have not already done so.

Hampers will be available for collection in the Bowler Hall at Starkholmes on Tuesdays. Please ensure you wear a suitable face mask and maintain social distancing when on the school site to collect hampers.

Free School Meal Criteria

Families could qualify for free school meals if meeting the following criteria:  Universal Credit, provided there is an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400 (£616.67 per month)  Income Support  Income-based Jobseekers Allowance  Income-related Employment and Support Allowance  support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999  the guarantee element of State 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) as assessed by HMRC  Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

Universal Credit has begun to be rolled out in Derbyshire and will affect all areas of Derbyshire by the end of 2022 - full details are available on Derbyshire County Council’s website https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/social-health/adult-care-and-wellbeing/benefits-debt-and-legalmatters/welfare-benefits/universal-credit/universal-credit.aspx

Young people age 16 to 18 who receive the benefits or tax credits in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals. Even if you meet any or all of the criteria, families will not be eligible if they are claiming Working Tax Credit. You can sign up for free school meals at any time of year. You or your partner can claim for your children, as long as you live at the same address. You do not have to fill in a separate form for each child, even if they go to different schools. For further information contact the free school meals team on 01629 536400 or 01629 536481.

Financial help from the ‘We Are Highfields Fund’

We have reopened the We Are Highfields fund that we set up during the last lockdown to support Highfields families affected by the Covid-19 outbreak to pay bills and get connectivity. Please pass these details on to anyone who may need help but does not access school emails or the newsletter.

Application forms for the We Are Highfields Fund can be requested from the finance office either by email (finance@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk); can be completed over the phone where you will be asked few simple questions to check eligibility (01629 832325); through your child’s year manager or the school website:

https://www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/WeAreHighfieldsApplication.docx This is a hardship grant and is considered on a case by case basis. This grant scheme will be paid out until funds are exhausted. To be eligible you must be a parent/carer of a students at Highfields School and have savings of less than £1,000 per person or £2,000 for a family or couple (including rolling bank balance).

Highfields Emergency Childcare

If you wish your child to attend school because they meet the criteria previously issued, please email lleverton@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk by Friday of each week and specify the details of the days and times of the following week that emergency childcare is required.

Any students attending should bring packed lunch/snacks and are required to wear a mask when on the school sites. Mrs Leverton will confirm details to families individually.

Free Microsoft Office for Students

Students at Highfields School can download Microsoft Office for free on up to five devices, for the duration of their time as a student at the school.

Microsoft Office can be installed on compatible desktop computers, tablets, and mobile phones. https://www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk/students/office-for-students/