School meals and milk

Pupil meals

The cost of a fixed price, two-course school meal and the value of a free school meal (see further details below) is £2.20. 

Adult meals are charged as follows:

• Two-course meal: £2.76 (£2.30 + £0.46 VAT)
• Main course only: £2.22 (£1.85 + £0.37 VAT)
• Dessert only: £0.54 (£0.45 + £0.09 VAT)

A wide variety of food is provided. Much of it is additive free and low in salt and sugar. This enables pupils to have a balanced meal. The menus are varied and designed to appeal to children.

If your child attends a primary or junior school with a self-service cafeteria, pupils can choose from a menu of individually priced items. The menu is on display in school so that pupils can choose what they would like to eat.

Copies of menus are available from the school.

Special diets can be provided for medical or religious reasons.  If your child requires a special diet, you should give details to the school, including any recommendations.  A letter from your child’s doctor should accompany any requests for special diets on medical grounds.

• If your child attends a first, infant or primary school that serves a two-course school meal, the school will tell you the arrangements for payment of school lunch money. Generally, parents usually pay on Monday for the whole week. If a pupil is absent on a day when a lunch has been paid for, the meal will be held in credit until the pupil’s return
• If your child attends a primary or junior school, which has a part cash cafeteria, only the main course of the meal is at a set price. Any food or drink chosen for the second course, is paid for on the day. Money for this course must be taken to school daily. Parents usually pay for the main course on Monday for the coming week. Credit for any meal not taken through illness or absence, will be held over until the pupil’s return
• If your child attends a primary or junior school with a self-service cafeteria, they may choose from a menu of individually priced items, which are paid for at the time they are taken. Pupils should therefore take money to school each day. The menu is on display in school so that pupils can choose what they would like to eat and calculate in advance how much money it will cost them 

Copies of menus and price lists are available from the school.

Pupils bringing packed lunches to school are provided with a chair and a table at which to eat their meal. Cutlery and crockery are not provided and therefore children wishing to have a drink should bring their own cups. Drinking water is available.

In the interests of hygiene and safety, parents are asked to co-operate with the school in the provision of packed lunches. Lunches should be packed in leakproof containers. Canned drinks, vacuum flasks and glass bottles should be avoided. Parents are advised that packed lunches are not refrigerated at school.

All 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 these free school meals. However if you receive certain benefits, you can apply for your school to get extra funding from the government. 

Check if you are eligible for your child’s school to get extra funding

You must let us know if you are eligible. You can do this by completing and an application form and returning it to your child's school.

Download free school meals and pupil premium application form (pdf)

You can also ask the headteacher of your child's school for a printed copy of the application form.

Children in Year 3 and up, can receive free school meals if you receive certain benefits. 

Check if you can get free schools meals 

You must let us know if you are eligible. You can do this by completing and returning a free school meals application form to your child's school.

Download free school meals and pupil premium application form (pdf)

You can also ask the headteacher of your child's school for a printed copy of the application form.

Once your entitlement has been checked your child will receive free school meals. These will continue until you stop receiving a qualifying benefit. You must let us or the school know of any changes that affect eligibility. We will also carry out regular checks of entitlement.

The entitlement to free school meals continues for children transferring between schools in Norfolk. This is subject to parents/carers continuing to receive one of the qualifying benefits. Records are updated using data held by the school admissions team.

Parents of children transferring to schools outside of the county, should apply to the county council where the new school is situated.

Additional information and guidance can be obtained by emailing admissions@norfolk.gov.uk.