This page will help to make you aware of four great benefits available to children who live and go to a school in the City of Nottingham.

These are:

• FREE school meals

• FREE milk at school

• FREE school transport

• School clothing allowance

You can download copies of our application form from the right hand side of this page.

To find out if your child(ren) can receive these benefits and how you can make a claim please read on.

FREE school meals

Save up to £8.25 per week, per child

Some time ago we asked you to let us know what you thought about the school meals provided in Nottingham city schools. In response to what you told us we improved our school dinners and they are now more popular than ever before.

The main change we have made is to the menu which now includes varied child-friendly, healthy and nutritional choices, using fresh seasonal ingredients that meet government standards. All meals are prepared on a daily basis in our very own kitchens by well-trained and friendly school cooks. A free school meal includes a two-course hot or cold meal at lunchtime.

To find out more or to give your views on our school dinners, click here for more on School meals in Nottingham City Schools.

Are you eligible to claim free school meals for your child(ren)?

My child(ren):

• is/are aged 16 or under AND
• attends a Nottingham city school

If you, the parent/carer, receive at least ONE of the following benefits already:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• the guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, but NOT entitled to Working Tax Credit and you have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.¹
• support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

¹ Where a parent is entitled to Working Tax Credit Run-on - the payment someone receives for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit - their children are entitled to free school lunches. Children who receive a qualifying benefit in their own right are also eligible to receive free school meals.

< Back to top > 

Then you are eligible and can make a claim for your child(ren).

You may also be eligible if your child(ren):

• is/are 19 or under AND
• attends the sixth form at a Nottingham City LEA maintained school, full-time AND
• you, the parent/carer, receive at least ONE of the benefits listed above.

Still unsure if you are eligible? 
If so, please contact the Pupil Benefits Team who will be happy to help you and answer your questions.

I am eligible, how do I apply?
For more information and to make your application please click here.

What if my child attends a City Academy?
If your child attends Bluecoat Academy, or an Academy in the Djanogly Learning Trust, please apply directly to the Academy.  If your child attends any other Academy please apply to Nottingham City Council.

Can I speed up my claim so I can start making savings even sooner?
Yes, you can. The best way to do this is to make sure you have provided us with the evidence we need and as specified on the form.

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: IS96, SAL, Home Office/Solicitor letter or Application Registration Card AND your most recent post office NASS payment receipt

< Back to top > 

When do you need to tell us your circumstances have changed?
You will need to let us know about any changes to your personal circumstances as soon as possible.

These could be:

• a change to your permanent address
• you stop receiving the benefits listed above which make you eligible for free school meals
• you start to receive Working Tax Credit or your annual income exceeds £16,190

This list is not exhaustive please contact the Pupil Benefits Team for further advice.

What is the quickest way to let you know my personal circumstances have changed?
You can call a member of the Pupil Benefits Team on 915 4084 or come to the Customer Contact Centre on Angel Row, next to Central Library.

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

FREE School Milk - helping our children grow stronger

Milk is packed full of calcium, protein and other nutrients that help children to develop strong bones and to grow into healthy adults.

All children under 5 attending school or nursery full time will receive Free School Milk.

If your child(ren):

• is/are aged over 5 AND
• attends a Nottingham city school full-time AND
• is eligible for free school meals and is year 1 and/or year 2 at school

then you are eligible and your child(ren) can receive Free School Milk. This will be provided automatically if they are receiving free school meals. If do not want your children to take free school meals, but do want them to receive free school milk, then you need to complete an application form.

To make your application please click here

< Back to top >

School Clothing Allowance

Nottingham City Council can help you with the expense of school clothing if your child attends a Nottingham City School.

The City Council has sought to find the times when families most need financial support to buy school clothes. It's evident that the most important times to support parents with buying new school clothes is in the first year of primary school and the first year of secondary school (years 1 and 7 respectively). In addition to this the City Council will also offer support midway through primary school and midway through secondary school (years 4 and 9 respectively).

The City Council will therefore be offering the School Clothing Allowance to pupils who are in years 1, 4, 7, 9, and 11. The Allowance is also available to 4 year old pupils who are joining the Reception year.

The City Council is unable to provide support with School Clothing if your child attends an Academy. Please contact the Academy to find out if they operate a School Clothing Allowance scheme.  

Is your child(ren) eligible for a school clothing allowance?

If your child(ren):

• lives in Nottingham city AND
• attends a Nottingham City school AND
• is in years Reception, 1, 4, 7, 9 or 11

AND if you, the parent/carer, receive at least ONE of the following benefits already:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• the guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit including the Working Tax Credit element and your annual income does not exceed £16,190 as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
• support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

then you are eligible and can make a claim for your child(ren).

How much will I receive for each child?

Reception                    - £15.00
Year 1                         - £15.00
Year 4                         - £20.00
Year 7                         - £40.00
Year 9                         - £30.00
Year 11                       - £15.00

How will School Clothing Allowance be paid?

All payments are made by BACs direct to your bank or building society account. If you do not have either a bank/building society account or an account that can accepts BACs payments then please contact the Pupil Benefits Team.

How do I apply for the School Clothing Allowance?

If after reading this information you consider that you are eligible for the School Clothing Allowance, please do the following:

•  Click here to download and complete an application form [213kb]
• once the application form is completed you can send it to us using any of the following convenient options. You can:
  • post it or fax it to us - see the contact information below
  • drop it in at the Customer Contact Centre on Angel Row
  • drop it off at your child(ren)'s school and they will send it to us

< Back to top >

How to apply for Free School Meals, Free School Milk and School Clothing Allowance

If after reading this information you consider that you are eligible for Free School Meals, Free School Milk and/or the School Clothing Allowance, please do the following:

•  Click here to download and complete an application form [213kb]as soon as you can
• once the application form is completed you can send it to us using any of the following convenient options. You can:
  • post it or fax it to us - see the contact information below
  • drop it in at the Customer Contact Centre on Angel Row
  • drop it off at your child(ren)'s school and they will send it to us

How to contact Pupil Benefits

Pupil Benefits Team - If you need any help with completing the form or you have any other questions you can contact us in the following ways:

In Writing:

Pupil Benefits
Nottingham City Council
Customer Contact Centre Angel Row
Nottingham
NG1 6HP

In Person:

At the above address, Monday to Friday - 8.15 am - 4.30 pm.

By Telephone:

(0115) 915 4084 - Monday to Friday - 8.15 am - 4.50 pm

By Fax: (0115) 915 5550

By Email: pupil.benefits@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

< Back to top >

FREE school transport - save on bus fares to school

Nottingham City pupils may be eligible for a free travel pass for Nottingham City Transport bus services for the whole of the school year in which the application is made and approved.

Is your child(ren) eligible for free school transport?

If your child(ren):

• already meets the eligibility criteria for free school meals OR you receive the maximum level of Working Tax Credit AND
• is attending one of the 3 nearest available secondary schools to your home address AND
• lives more than 2 miles walking distance from their school OR attends the nearest faith school which is over 2 miles walking distance from their home

then you are eligible and can make a claim for your child(ren).

How to apply for Free School Transport

For more detailed information and/or to request an application form please contact the Transport Team by calling: 915 0692 or emailing: Transport.Team@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or click here to visit our school transport pages on this website.

< Back to top >