Help with the cost of going to school (Education awards and benefits)

The Schools in Suffolk booklet includes information about getting help with the cost of going to school. To go to the relevant section, please click on the link below

For information about free transport to school please click here
For information about free school meals please click here

Financial help for students at school sixth forms and sixth form (Education Maintenance Grant):
Please note that the information about the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) contained within Section 14 of the Schools in Suffolk booklet is no longer accurate. This is because the scheme is now not available for new applicants in England.

If you’re currently receiving EMA
If you currently receive EMA, you’ll continue to receive payments while you’re studying.

  • If you applied for EMA in 2009/10, your payments will continue for each week of your course until the end of the 2011/12 academic year.
  • If you applied for EMA in 2010/11 and you receive the maximum payment of £30 your payments will be reduced to £20 from September 2011.
  • If you’re in care, a care leaver or on income support your weekly EMA payments will be replaced with a guaranteed bursary of £1,200 a year from September 2011.

For more information about the changes to the scheme in England, go to the Directgov website (external website).