Cost of Living Support
Free school meals
Is my child eligible?
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 automatically get free school meals if they go to school. This is called universal infant free school meals. This is different to benefit-related free school meals.
You do not have to apply for universal infant free school meals, but if you receive one of the benefits listed below, you should still register for benefit-related free school meals. This is because it can help raise extra funds for your child's school (called Pupil Premium). This Government funding can help with extra tuition, teaching and after school activities.
If your child is in Year 3 or above, you must receive one of the following and have registered, to get benefit-related free school meals:
Universal Credit - with an annual earned income of no more than £7,400 after tax
Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
You must apply for these free school meals.
Apply for free school meals
You can contact the school office on 01603 759656 or email office@barnhambroom.norfolk.sch.uk to be sent a paper application form that we can send off for you or alternatively you can apply online via the Norfolk County Council Website where you will also find additional information:
https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/education-and-learning/schools/school-meals-and-milk (click on this link)
You can apply online for free school meals using your Norfolk Education Online (NEO) account. You can use the same account for 2-year-old childcare funding and school admissions.
Cost of living vouchers
Currently, if you are eligible for free school meals you will now receive a monthly ‘cost of living’ voucher.
The vouchers will be £15 per month, per child. There is an additional payment of £30 for the summer and for December, to coincide with the Christmas holidays. That’s £240 a year per child in total.
The vouchers will be paid up to and including March 2024.
The vouchers are provided by Edenred and can be used for food and groceries in store at the following supermarkets:
Morrisons
Tesco
Sainsbury’s
Asda
Waitrose
M&S food
McColl’s (including RS McColl’s and Martin’s)
Aldi
You can also use the Edenred vouchers online at Asda and Waitrose.
If you receive a means-tested benefit, are entitled for Free School Meals (Pupil Premium), have applied for and been granted Pupil Premium you will automatically receive the vouchers from school. These vouchers have a 3 month expiry.
If you haven't received your voucher or have any other issues please contact the school office and we will look into this for you.
Children of foreign nationals
Families with British National (Overseas) status and families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) are entitled to apply for free school meals by completing the NRPF free school meals application.
Apply for NRPF free school meals. (click on this link)
What activities are happening over Summer?
The next Big Norfolk Holiday Fun scheme will take place over the Summer holidays, between 24th July – 5th September 2023. Bookings will open in mid-June.
There will be a range of activities available all over the county, aimed at various ages. These include football, basketball, circus skills, arts and crafts and dance. It also involves music, cookery, film-making and much more!
It’s a fantastic way to encourage children and young people to try new things whilst keeping their brains and bodies stimulated over the school holidays. All children taking part will also receive a nutritious free meal as part of the offer.
What activities are happening over Summer?
The next Big Norfolk Holiday Fun scheme run by Active Norfolk, will take place over the Summer holidays, between 24th July – 5th September 2023. Bookings will open in mid-June.
There will be a range of activities available all over the county, aimed at various ages. These include football, basketball, circus skills, arts and crafts and dance. It also involves music, cookery, film-making and much more!
It’s a fantastic way to encourage children and young people to try new things whilst keeping their brains and bodies stimulated over the school holidays. All children taking part will also receive a nutritious free meal as part of the offer.
To book activities please click on the Big Norfolk Holiday Fun link to website button above.