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. 

Apply for free school meals   (click on this link)

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)

Norfolk Support Offer

Norfolk County Council, alongside local councils across Norfolk, is aiming to support as many residents as possible to access financial and other support if they are facing hardship. 

We know for many people current times will be challenging for a variety of reasons, and there will be a lot of people who will need help with things like paying the bills and buying food, and many people who have never needed help before. 

The Norfolk Assistance Scheme (NAS) 

NAS already provides hardship support to Norfolk residents. The offer uses an additional government grant that is primarily aimed at families with children. 

Initially the two-week provision includes 

• Morrisons food boxes 

• Additional support with household essentials like nappies, formula milk and cleaning products 

• Paypoint top ups for gas and electricity 

• Daily living allowance for living expenses and household bills where needed. 

Week three onwards 

• Support with things like broadband and help to get online 

• Additional support with household items such as washing machines and fridges 

• If further food and essential support is needed after the initial two-week period, then this will be implemented by NAS for as long as is required.