Free School Meals and Milk
To apply for free school meals or milk for your child you can:
You can download and print a free school meals fact sheet [PDF] with information about eligibility and how to apply.
Who can apply?
Benefits
You may qualify for free school meals if your child attends a Nottinghamshire County Council School or Nursery full time (in line with the school’s published admission arrangements) and you receive one of the following benefits:
- income support
- income based jobseeker’s allowance
- income related employment support allowance
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- child tax credit, provided you are not entitled to working tax credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
- guarantee element of state pension credit
In addition, if you are receiving one of the above payments your children will be entitled to free milk in school if they are aged seven and under (there is no age limit for children attending special schools)
More information about milk in school.
Who to apply to
Who you need to apply to for free school meals depends on which school your child goes to.
If your child attends a
Guidance
The easiest way to apply is by telephoning 01623 433009 if your child goes to a Nottinghamshire County Council school or nursery full-time and you receive one of the qualifying benefits listed above.
When you ring us we will need the following:
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your personal details (including your national insurance number and date of birth), those of your partner (someone you are married to, have entered into a civil partnership with, or live with as though you are married) and your child’s details in full including their date of birth and the school they attend
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we will verify your entitlement to an eligible benefit through the Department for Education Electronic Checking System. If we are unable to confirm your entitlement we will let you know what to do next
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If you are eligible for free school meals and/or milk we will confirm this in writing to you and your child’s school to tell you the date your child’s free school meals and milk will start. The start date will normally be within two days of you contacting us and your entitlement being verified
Your child will continue to receive free school meals and milk while you are receiving the qualifying benefit. If your qualifying benefit stops you must tell us immediately. Your benefit office will not inform us on your behalf. You may have to repay the cost of any meals and milk your child received from the date your qualifying benefit stopped.
Contact
If you wish to return a downloaded application form you will need to complete it with all the requested information. If you wish to return your application in person, you may take it into one of our local offices, your child’s school or one of our area contact schools as follows:
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Oliver Quibell Infant School, Bowbridge Road, Newark
Monday to Friday, 9am – 3pm (term time only)
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Dukeries Complex (Main Reception), Dukeries Campus, Whinney Lane, Ollerton
Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 7.30pm
Alternatively, you can return the form by post to:
Parent and Pupil Services
Children, Families and Cultural Services
Meadow House, Littleworth
Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
NG18 2TA
E-mail: parentpupil.north@nottscc.gov.uk
