Support with school costs

If you are struggling with costs such as uniform, school lunches, or trips, there are services in Sheffield that can help.

‍

Sheffield City Council

You can find local cost of living support on the Sheffield City Council website.

Sheffield City Council also have a community services helpline that you can call on 0114 273 4567 (Mon-Fri 8:30am-6pm).

Or you can fill in their contact form on their website.

‍

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice can help provide national advice on school costs.

You can contact them by visiting their website or filling in their online enquiry form.

Or you can call them on 0808 278 7820 (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm)

If your family has a low income and gets certain benefits, your child may be able to get free school meals.

Families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) may also qualify.

Children in Reception, Year 1, or Year 2 automatically get free school meals under the Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme.

‍

No application is needed. You can contact your school to request this.

Or you can check if you qualify and apply online on the Sheffield City Council Website.

‍

If you would prefer to speak on the phone, you can call the Free School Meals team on 0114 273 4567, select option 4 and option 3.‍

Each school in Sheffield has its own uniform rules. Ask your child’s school about the school uniform when you attend the admission visit. 

You can save money by buying second-hand items. Schools often give information about this on their websites. Some schools have second hand uniforms that your child can borrow. 

If you are finding it hard to pay for a uniform, ask your child’s school. They can tell you what support is available.

You don’t have to buy school uniform with a logo/brand on it. You can buy plain unbranded school uniform from supermarkets which is usually cheaper. Your child will usually just need a pair of black trousers and a pair of black shoes but ask your school what else they’ll need before purchasing any items.

Discounted bus passes are available through Travel South Yorkshire. These make bus tickets cheaper for children and young people.

If your child’s school is a certain distance from your home, they may be able to get a free bus pass from Sheffield City Council.

‍

• You can apply for a discounted travel pass if your child is under 16 on the Travel South Yorkshire website.

• You can apply for a discounted travel pass if you child is 16-18 on the Travel South Yorkshire website.

‍

You can also check on the Sheffield City Council website if your child qualifies for free travel.

If your child gets free school meals, they may be able to join Holiday Activities and Food (HAF).

HAF offers free holiday clubs during the Halfterm, Easter, Summer, and Christmas school holidays.

Families who are subject to NRPF may also qualify.

Activities may include:

• Sports, dance, drama, and songwriting
  
  
• Day trips and group activities
  
  
• A healthy meal for each child at the club
  
  

If your child is eligible, Sheffield City Council will send you a letter with a HAF code.
You will need this code to book activities.

‍

What you can do:

• ‍Book activities using your HAF code
  
  • You can book online (by creating an account)
  • Or calling 0114 203 9303

• Check what’s available in your area

• Find more information from the Council

• Contact the programme team directly (if you need help)
  
  • Telephone: 0114 203 9303
  • Email: [email protected]