FAO: Parents/Guardians of Pre-School Applications 2021-2022 who have ticked that they are Socially Disadvantaged / In receipt of other benefits
All information must be uploaded by 1200 noon on 5/2/21
REMINDER - Please make sure you have provided the corrected information required below before you upload to the portal. If you have not uploaded the correct proof of documentation or are having difficulty please give the school a call.
Tel: O28 71 348446 before 10am on 5/2/21. Or email info@goodshepherd.derry.ni.sch.uk
EDUCATION AUTHORITY NOTE BELOW:
What does socially disadvantaged circumstances mean when applying for a funded pre-school place?
Legislation requires pre-school providers to give priority to children in their final pre-school year who are from socially disadvantaged circumstances.
The Department of Education has defined socially disadvantaged circumstances as applying to a child whose parent is in receipt of any of the following benefits:-
(i) Income Support; or
(ii) (ii) Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance; or
(iii) (iii) An award of Income Support which has been converted into an Employment and Support Allowance and the level of benefit remains the same; or (iv) Universal Credit.
If you are in receipt of any of these benefits you must provide verification. When you complete an application you will be asked to tick the benefit you are in receipt of. A parent in receipt of Universal Credit (UC) will be able to upload later in the application process their current UC online statement showing they are in receipt of UC. Refer to guidance on Document Upload.
A parent in receipt of Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or an award of Income Support which has been converted into ESA and the level of benefit remains the same will be able to complete a benefit verification request form later in the application process at www.eani.org.uk/benefitverification.
The Department for Communities (DfC) will then verify any of these 3 benefits and the EA will advise your pre-school of first preference if verified or not verified.
We will ONLY contact you if DfC are unable to verify your benefit.
Regards
Mrs A. Doherty & Mrs S. McCafferty
