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 and you do not have to apply, but if you receive one of the benefits listed below, you should still register below. 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 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 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.
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.
If you are eligible for free school meals we'll email or write to you to let you know. We'll also tell your child's school. If we need more information about your application, we'll contact you.
Children who are normally home-schooled are not eligible for free school meals. This includes both universal free school meals and families who receive benefits.
If you home-school your children and are in hardship, apply for support via Client Hardship Service.
Paying for school meals
If you pay for school meals, go to your child's school website for cost, menu and payment information.
School milk
If the local authority runs the school (known as a maintained school), they must offer milk during school hours. This includes all maintained:
Primary schools
Infant schools
Junior schools
Secondary schools
Children aged 5-11–years-old can buy a standard carton of milk.
Free vouchers
If your child gets free school meals you will also receive a monthly cost of living voucher