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Nottingham City Council is consulting on future options for its Council Tax Support scheme which helps households on low incomes with their Council Tax bill. 

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Support and Benefits for Children at School

Support and Benefits for Children at School

Free School Meals & Free Milk

Your child will be entitled to Universal Free School Meals if they’re in:

  • Reception class
  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Your child may be entitled to continued free school meals if you get any of the following:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
  • Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit -Your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian can also get free school meals.

Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:

Please Note; If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 and you are in receipt of any of the above benefits, you must still make a claim for Free School Meals even if you are entitled to the Universal Free School Meals. This is to ensure the school receive the correct entitlement of Pupil Premium for your child.

If your child attends any of the following, you must apply for Free School Meals directly to the academy:

  • Blessed Robert Widmerpool
  • Bluecoat Schools (any)
  • Djanogly Northgate Academy
  • Djanogly Sherwood Academy
  • Djanogly Strelley Academy
  • Djanogly Springfield Academy
  • Jubilee
  • Our Lady and St Edwards
  • Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Academy
  • Rosslyn Park
  • St Ann’s Well Academy
  • St Augustines RC Primary and Nursery Academy
  • St Margaret Clitherow RC Primary Academy
  • St Marys Catholic Voluntary Academy
  • St Patricks Catholic Primary Academy
  • St Teresa’s RC Primary Academy
  • The Nottingham Emmanuel
  • The Trinity
  • Warren Primary

School Uniform Allowance

We no longer provide support for school uniforms. Any new applications beyond 30th September 2024 will not be considered. 

How to Apply

Apply for a Free School Meal

Completing this service should take around 10 minutes.

To complete this service you will need.

The best way to make sure you start making savings sooner is to provide us with the evidence we need.

For example:

  • A letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Jobcentre Plus confirming your current benefits and dated within the last 6 weeks
  • Child Tax Credit award letter (TC602(A)) for the current tax year
  • Take the completed application form to your Jobcentre Plus or DWP office and ask them to stamp the form to confirm which benefits you receive
  • Proof of asylum status, such as your Home Office paperwork showing your NASS number

Once the application form is completed you can send it to us using any of the following options. You can:

  • Ask at your child(ren)’s school/academy to email it to us on your behalf
  • Email it to us at pupil.benefits@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
  • By post.
Download an application form

Changes to your circumstances

Changes to your circumstances may mean that you are no longer entitled to claim a free school meals for your child(ren) and you could be charged for them. So, please let us know about any changes as soon as possible.

The quickest way you can let us know is to email Pupil.benefits or call us on 01159154084

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