Needham Market Town Council Meetings:
These are held on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meetings. Town Council meetings are held in The Green Room, Community Centre, School Street, Needham Market, Suffolk, IP6 8BB
Deadline looming: Parents urged to apply for Free School Meals before the end of the month
Suffolk County Council is urging parents and carers whose children may be entitled to free school meals to register before 1 April 2018.
As part of the roll out of Universal Credit, The Department for Education has recently announced that it is committed to providing Free School Meals for all eligible young people for at least the next four years, as long as they have applied by the end of the month.
If a child is eligible for free school meals and applies before the end of 31 March 2018, under the current DfE commitment, they will be entitled to free school meals until the end of March 2022, when the Universal Credit roll out has been completed.
As well as getting a nutritious meal each day, which is proven to help a child’s ability to concentrate and learn at school, their school will receive additional funding, called Pupil Premium, which can be used to support activities at the school. Under Pupil Premium rules a school continues to receive the funding for six years after the pupil ceases to be eligible or has moved schools.
To be eligible for free school meals at least one parent or carer in the family must receive one of the following benefits:
Universal Credit
Income Support
Income based Job Seeker’s Allowance
Income related Employment and Support Allowance
Working Tax Credit run on
Child Tax Credit but no element of Working Tax Credit and have an annual income that does not exceed £16,190
Cllr Gordon Jones, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills said “A year of school meals costs a family around £450. If they are eligible, free school meals will save families that money, provides their child with a nutritious meal each day and generate up to £1,300 of extra funding each year for their child’s school. It only takes a few minutes to apply, is easy to do and you will know immediately if you are entitled.”
“Even if your child already gets a Universal Infant Free School Meal, you should still apply for free school meals. Schools don’t receive extra funding for children on Universal Infant Free School Meal but they do for children receiving free school meals.”
To apply online and for further information visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals. Those without access internet access can visit their local library or visit their child’s school for further assistance. Alternatively, people can contact the Free School Meals Team on 01473 260989 or [email protected] who will also be able to provide you with a paper version of the application form.
Electoral Review of Mid Suffolk
The Local Government Boundary Commission has published and is consulting on new draft recommendations on the future electoral arrangements for Mid Suffolk District Council. The recommendations can be viewed at lgbce.org.uk. The consultation closes on 30th April 2018.
Opening hours at Needham Market Library:
Needham Market Library is running an opening hours consultation which runs until 28th March.
As part of the consultation we are asking local people for their views by completing a survey at the library or online via https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/needhamlibrary.
See here for more info....
Proposals for the Future of Mid Suffolk District Council’s (old) Offices:
Needham Market Community Centre
All enquiries regarding hiring or use of the Community Centre must be emailed to the Community Centre Manager, Mr Martin Spurling: [email protected]
or telephone: 07756 575158.
Needham Lake
Needham Lake is owned and operated by Mid Suffolk District Council and all enquiries relating to it should be made directly to them.
Please see their Website for contact details: www.midsuffolk.gov.uk