Free school meals, school meals and milk

Free school meals

Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2

Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are offered universal free school meals. This is regardless of your household income.

You do not have to apply for universal free school meals. However, you can apply for your school to get extra funding from the government, if you receive one of the benefits list below. This extra funding is called Pupil Premium:

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

Children in Year 3 and above

Children in Year 3 and above only receive free school meals if you get one of the benefits listed above. You must apply for these free school meals.

How to apply

You can apply for free school meals online using your Norfolk Education Online (NEO) account. You can use the same account for 2-year-old childcare funding and school admissions.

If you have applied for school admissions online before, you may already have an account.

Apply for free school meals

If you are eligible, we will confirm by email and tell your child’s school. If the result is “Not Found” or you need to send more proof, we will contact you by email.

Alternatively, you can download an application form and return it, or collect one from your child’s school.

What happens if your child moves schools?

If your child moves schools within Norfolk, they will continue to receive free school meals if they are still eligible.

If your child is moving to a school outside Norfolk, you will need to apply to the county council where the new school is.

School meals

The cost of a fixed price, two-course school meal is £2.30.

Adult meals are charged as follows:

Two-course meal: £2.94 (£2.45 + £0.49 VAT)
Main course only: £2.40 (£2.00 + £0.40 VAT)
Dessert only: £0.54 (£0.45 + £0.09 VAT)

School milk

All maintained primary, infant, junior and secondary schools are legally required to make milk available for drinking during school hours.

Children age 5-11 years can get a standard carton of milk for 20p.