Every child should feel like they belong, especially at school
We want our schools to be places where all children enjoy attending, where they feel part of a school community and benefit from an excellent education that is both academic and enriching.
At Pathfinder, we are committed to making sure that every child can thrive, regardless of their background or financial circumstances. We work proactively to identify and remove barriers to learning, participation, and opportunity that may arise from poverty, disadvantage or other vulnerabilities.
Guidance and support
Free school meal eligibility
Free school meal eligibility
Families in receipt of certain benefits may qualify for free school meals. Find out how we can check your eligibility.
Wider benefits and support
Wider benefits and support
Explore the benefits and support available for young people and families across our local authority areas.
I need some extra help
I need some extra help
If you think you may need support with school-related costs, please get in touch to see how we could help.
Working in partnership
Working in partnership
Find out how our partnership working is aiming to ensure that no student is excluded due to cost or circumstance.
Free school meal eligibility
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
- 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 guaranteed 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 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
How to apply for free school meals
Our schools have a quick and easy way to check whether you are entitled to claim free school meals. All we need is your name, date of birth and National Insurance Number (or Asylum support reference number) in order to perform the eligibility check.
How does it work?
When we process your application, we will check your child’s eligibility for free school meals with information held by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education. This quick online check means we can often confirm eligibility immediately.
About free school meals
- We treat all claims in confidence and schools provide the same meals to all children regardless of free school meal status.
- Your child does not have to have a meal every day, you can still provide them with a packed lunch as and when you like.
- We will transfer your child’s entitlement if they move to another school, so you won’t need to go through the process again.
- It will not affect any other benefits you are claiming.
- Once you have registered, the system will perform a routine check and automatically update your eligibility if your circumstances change.
Working in partnership
Across our city we are working in partnership to develop inclusive practices, listening to families to embed meaningful, sustainable change across schools. This dedication has underpinned York’s work around inclusion with specific focuses on Poverty Proofing, Fair Access Admissions and the work with York Travellers Trust. Through this collaborative approach, we aim to create an environment where all students feel valued and supported and where no one is excluded due to cost or circumstance.
Click the icons below to visit each partner organisation’s website.
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Fair School Admissions Award
York has been awarded the prestigious Sutton Trust Fair School Admissions Gold Award in recognition of the city’s significant and sustained efforts to improve fairness and equity in school admissions across the local area. City of York Council and the York Schools and Academies Board (YSAB) have been working in partnership to implement a Pupil Premium priority quota within the admissions policies of all secondary schools and academies – a measure designed to improve access for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Gold Award is the highest level of recognition in the Sutton Trust’s Fair School Admissions programme. It is awarded to organisations that have implemented multiple, significant changes to admissions policies, demonstrated strong collaboration across schools, and shown leadership in improving fairness across an entire local system.
The fair admissions initiative is designed to address inequalities in access to high-performing schools, where research has shown that admissions arrangements and wider structural factors can contribute to social segregation and limit opportunities for disadvantaged pupils.
Wider benefits and support
Pathfinder includes schools within both City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council, each of which provides a range of services and support for families. We also recognise that some families attending our schools may live in other local authority areas, which may offer similar support and guidance.
Please see the tabs below for links to useful advice, guidance and services, grouped by local authority.
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| Money and benefits links |
| Special Educational Needs and Disabilities links |
| School uniform links |
| Holiday activities and food links |
| Traveller families links |
| Service families links |
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| Money and benefits links |
| Special Educational Needs and Disabilities links |
| School uniform links |
| Holiday activities and food links |
| Traveller families links |
| Service families links |
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| Money and benefits links |
| Special Educational Needs and Disabilities links |
| School uniform links |
| Holiday activities and food links |
| Traveller families links |
| Service families links |
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| Money and benefits links |
| Special Educational Needs and Disabilities links |
| School uniform links |
| Holiday activities and food links |
| Traveller families links |
| Service families links |
Get in touch with us
Messages submitted through this form will be sent to the Trust’s central team and treated in the strictest confidence. We may need to liaise with your child’s school to understand the most appropriate support we can provide.
Our core commitments
Our schools are committed to shining a light on eight key areas of school life that we feel can make a significant difference to our families; signposting and communicating information in the most accessible way possible.
We recognise that uniform costs can present a barrier to participation in education, and we are committed to ensuring this is avoided wherever possible.
Pathfinder schools are committed to ensuring that school uniform policies are affordable, inclusive, and accessible to all families. We prioritise simplicity in uniform requirements, minimise the use of branded items, and ensure that essential items are, wherever possible, widely available from multiple retailers at competitive prices.
To achieve this, we will:
- Engage our school community
Involve parents, carers, and pupils in the development and review of our uniform policy to ensure it remains practical, affordable, and inclusive. - Ensure clarity and accessibility
Maintain clear, consistent uniform expectations that are easy to understand, with any changes introduced gradually and with appropriate notice to families. - Promote affordability and value for money
Work with suppliers to ensure uniform items are good value for money and, wherever possible, widely available from multiple retailers, avoiding reliance on single or costly sources. - Minimise branded requirements
Keep the number of branded items to a minimum, prioritising unbranded or generic alternatives wherever possible to reduce cost pressures on families. - Promote sustainability and reuse
Encourage the use of pre-loved and recycled uniform items, ensuring these are well-promoted and readily available to all families both during the school day and at school events.
We recognise that well-nourished children focus better and learn more in the classroom, leading to better performance.
Pathfinder Schools are committed to ensuring that every child has access to nutritious, high-quality food during the school day. Our approach is designed to reduce food poverty, promote inclusion, and ensure that all pupils have a positive food experience.
To achieve this, we will:
- Engage our school community
Actively involve pupils, parents, and carers in the development and review of our Food and Nutrition policies through regular feedback, consultation, and communication. - Promote inclusion and reduce food poverty
Implement practices that remove barriers to accessing food, ensuring that all pupils benefit from a positive dining experience. - Provide high-quality, nutritious meals
Ensure that all school meal provision meets national nutritional standards and offers balanced, appealing options that represent good value in both quality and quantity. - Support access to food provision and wider services
Encourage uptake of breakfast clubs, including free or subsidised places where needed. Proactively support families in accessing Free School Meal eligibility and signpost to appropriate local food support services where necessary. - Identify and respond to need
Work with staff to identify pupils who may be experiencing food insecurity and respond in a timely, appropriate, and confidential manner, including referral to internal and external support where appropriate.
We recognise the important role these experiences play in broadening horizons, supporting cultural capital, and enhancing learning.
Pathfinder schools are committed to ensuring that all pupils can access and benefit from a wide range of trips, visits, and enrichment activities. Our approach is designed to remove financial barriers, eliminate hidden costs, and ensure equitable access for all.
To achieve this, we will:
- Engage our school community
Involve pupils, parents, and carers in the development and review of policies related to trips, visits, and enrichment activities through regular consultation and feedback. - Provide inclusive and enriching opportunities
Offer a broad and diverse programme of experiences, including cultural, sporting, and performance opportunities, with a commitment to providing a range of activities free of charge wherever possible. - Reduce financial barriers to participation
Ensure transparency around the cost and purpose of trips and activities, providing advance notice and offering flexible payment options, including staged payment plans where appropriate. - Identify and minimise hidden costs
Review school practices to reduce or remove indirect financial pressures associated with activities such as non-uniform days, fundraising events, school fairs, and leavers’ celebrations. - Provide targeted and discreet support
Use school funds and bursaries to support pupils from lower-income families to access opportunities. Communicate with families in a sensitive and personalised manner, ensuring that no pupil is excluded due to financial constraints.
We recognise that barriers to school admissions exist, our partnership working with the Sutton Trust and commitment to maintaining the Gold Award for Fair Access Admissions, reflect our commitment to removing financial and social barriers from the application and entry process.
Pathfinder Schools are committed to ensuring that our admissions processes are fair, transparent, and accessible to all families. We aim to ensure that all families, regardless of background, are able to access clear information, feel welcomed and supported, and are not disadvantaged at any stage of the admissions journey.
To achieve this, we will:
- Promote fair and inclusive admissions practices
Adhere to the Fair Access guidelines in partnership with the Sutton Trust, including, where appropriate, the use of pupil premium priority criteria within admissions arrangements. - Ensure clarity and accessibility of information
Provide clear, comprehensive, and accessible information about admissions processes, key dates, and transition arrangements, ensuring this is available in one place and in formats that meet the needs of all families. - Engage families in a supportive and inclusive manner
Communicate with families in a welcoming, respectful and confidential way, throughout the admissions process, ensuring that no family feels disadvantaged or discouraged due to financial circumstances. - Reduce financial barriers to entry
Minimise or remove costs associated with starting school, including avoiding mandatory contributions for introductory events and providing access to essential items (such as basic equipment or school bags) free of charge or at subsidised rates where needed. - Support a smooth and inclusive transition
Work collaboratively with families, feeder settings, and relevant professionals to ensure a positive transition into school, with early activities and opportunities designed to be accessible to all pupils, including enhanced arrangements where specific vulnerabilities exist.
We recognise the important role that events, celebrations and fundraising activities play in bringing school communities together, supporting important causes and creating lasting memories.
Pathfinder Schools are committed to ensuring that events, celebrations, and fundraising activities are inclusive, accessible, and enriching for all pupils. We aim to reduce hidden costs and financial barriers to participation, and prioritise low-cost or no-cost alternatives.
To achieve this, we will:
- Engage our school community in planning
Involve pupils, parents, and carers in the development of the annual programme of events and activities. We will actively seek pupil voice to identify barriers to participation and ensure events are inclusive and accessible. - Minimise costs associated with non-uniform events
Carefully plan non-uniform days to ensure they do not place financial pressure on families, limiting their frequency and prioritising simple, inclusive themes (for example, odd sock days or colour-based themes) that do not require additional purchases. - Promote low-cost and creative alternatives
Encourage the use of school resources and in-class activities to support costume creation and themed participation, ensuring pupils are able to take part without families needing to purchase new items. - Ensure fundraising is inclusive and voluntary
Clearly communicate that all donations to charity, school events, or activities (including discos and themed days) are voluntary. Where appropriate, offer family-based donation options rather than individual pupil contributions. - Create discreet and supportive donation systems
Use anonymous and dignified methods of collecting donations (such as drop boxes or collection points) and avoid public or classroom-based collection practices. We will also discourage the expectation or promotion of staff gift contributions.
We recognise that financial pressures can create barriers to participation, wellbeing, and inclusion, and are committed to ensuring that every pupil can fully engage in school life.
Pathfinder Schools are committed to ensuring that all aspects of school life are affordable and accessible for all families. We will provide practical, discreet, and timely support alongside clear communication about financial assistance and wider support that may be available.
To achieve this, we will:
- Promote affordability across all areas of school life
Ensure that our approaches to uniform, school meals, trips, visits, enrichment activities, and school events prioritise affordability, inclusion, and equitable access for all families. - Provide discreet practical support where needed
Offer practical assistance sensitively, including access to essential items such as lunchboxes, water bottles, stationery or equipment, ensuring support is provided in a respectful and inclusive manner. - Support families through flexible financial arrangements
Provide advance notice of school-related costs, offering flexible payment options, including staged payment plans, to help families manage budgeting for trips, activities and events. - Promote awareness of financial support and entitlements
Actively support families to access benefits, Free School Meals, grants, and other forms of financial assistance to which they may be entitled. We will also signpost families to relevant local services and maintain accessible information about available support through our Wider Benefits and Support resources. - Provide confidential routes to request support
Ensure families can access support discreetly and confidentially through our dedicated contact form which is monitored by Pathfinder colleagues who may be able to provide support or access to hardship funds.
We recognise that practical, financial, social, and emotional barriers can affect attendance, participation and wellbeing, and we are committed to creating a warm, welcoming, and supportive environment for every child and family.
Pathfinder Schools are committed to supporting families to ensure that children are ready to learn each day and that they experience a positive and consistent start to the school day. We will ensure that families feel well informed, supported and confident during key transition points throughout their child’s education journey.
To achieve this, we will:
- Support positive transitions
Provide accessible and welcoming transition arrangements across all Key Stages, (Reception, Year 7, and Post-16). This will include Open Evenings, Induction or Transition events as well as enhanced or bespoke arrangements for pupils with additional needs. - Ensure families know where to access support
Clearly identify and communicate the roles of key staff who can provide support, including class teachers, form tutors, Heads of Year, Safeguarding leads and the wider pastoral and wellbeing teams. - Provide clear and accessible information
Through a range of formats share timely, accessible, and easy-to-understand information about school routines, uniform expectations, meals, transport, attendance, behaviour expectations, and curriculum provision. - Promote a positive start to the school day
Ensure pupils are welcomed warmly and consistently each day, including access to breakfast club provision and practical support with essential school equipment where needed, such as bags, stationery, or learning resources. - Promote digital inclusion and healthy technology use
Support equitable access to any technology required for learning, including the provision or subsidy of devices where appropriate, and promote the healthy and responsible use of technology.
We recognise that families may experience different barriers to engagement and we are committed to developing flexible and supportive approaches that enable all families to participate fully in the school community.
Pathfinder Schools are committed to working in partnership with all families through clear, inclusive, and effective communication. We aim to build trusting relationships, strengthening belonging and ensuring that every family feels welcomed, informed and able to engage meaningfully in all aspects of school life.
To achieve this, we will:
- Review and develop inclusive communication practices
Regularly review communication methods, including letters, emails, apps, and digital platforms, to ensure they are accessible, inclusive, and do not make assumptions about families’ access to technology, time, or disposable income. - Build positive and trusting relationships with families
Engage with families respectfully and supportively, taking time to understand and respond to barriers that may affect engagement, such as work commitments, childcare responsibilities, transport difficulties, language needs or anxiety about school environments. - Use clear, timely, and accessible communication
Ensure communication is timely, relevant, and easy to understand, using a multi-channel approach (including text messages, email, phone calls, apps, and face-to-face communication where appropriate) to reach as many families as possible. - Create meaningful opportunities for family engagement
Provide a range of opportunities for families to engage with school life both within and beyond the school day, including stay-and-learn sessions, assemblies, workshops, coffee mornings, performances, and wider community events. - Provide discreet and accessible support for families
Ensure that information about potential support available to families is easy to access, confidential, and communicated sensitively, including support available during school holidays as well as term time.
BEACON Champions
BEACON Champions are members of staff who help bring our commitments to removing barriers to learning, participation and opportunity to life within their schools. They raise awareness of BEACON across the school community and help ensure that our eight core commitments shape the way we support children and families.
Champions provide a friendly and supportive point of contact, working alongside families to understand their individual circumstances, listen to their needs and help connect them with relevant guidance, practical assistance and wider opportunities available through school and in the local area.
