Stephenson Way Academy and Nursery School

1. Financial help and support for families - A dedicated web page Help with your money has been developed for County Durham residents and contains specific help for families. The page has information on a range of support available including applying for Free School Meals (FSM), debt advice/financial help and help with heating and fuel bills. Also see attached leaflets.
     
2. Help with buying items for school including school uniforms - A dedicated web page has been developed for families to find out about this support Help with buying items for school - Durham County Council  
   
   
3. Affordable School Uniforms: Guide for schools – please see a very helpful guide developed by Children Society to help schools with advice on school uniforms costs  
   
   
4. Period Products Scheme has been extended to July 2024- The period product scheme is available to all state-maintained schools and 16 to 19 education establishments in England. It provides anyone who has periods access to tampons, pads and more through their school or college if, for example, they can’t afford period products, have forgotten to bring them to school or college or have come on their period unexpectedly. Further information and guidance on how to order period products for your school is available Period products in schools and colleges - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 
    
5. The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT)- TBBT collects surplus food and staple goods that often end up going to waste from supermarkets, factories and farms, and distributes it at a discount price through 10 community hubs across County Durham. You will need to become a member to use the service, but this is free to do. For just £7.50, TBBT members' shopping bags can be filled with an average of £35 worth of items made up of quality, nutritious food. Each week members can access three bags of produce, including fresh fruit and vegetables, chilled goods, as well as cupboard staples such as pasta and cereal.     Bread and Butter Thing: membership  
   
   
6.  Advice on keeping home  warm- please see top 10 tips on energy saving

Funding to Support for Families in Financial Difficulty

As a result of COVID and other issues affecting global markets, many families who were already struggling have had additional financial pressure placed upon them especially with the rising cost of living.  Some families have had a swift fall in income due to unemployment, waiting for first Universal Credit payments or the universal credit top-up being withdrawn etc. As a result, many families are finding it difficult to afford school uniform, equipment, food and essential items. 

Durham County Council are providing a ‘School Support Fund’ as a result of one-off funding received from the government.  Schools/colleges will receive a small grant to support their most vulnerable families facing financial difficulties and ensure that children and young people are able to attend education settings with the required resources.  The amount of funding that the school/academy will receive is based on the FSM summer census data and June EYFSPP returns.

The funding can support ANY family the school/college have identified are facing financial difficulty (this includes children not eligible for EYPP or Free School Meals).  Funding can be used to support pre-school and 6^th form provision attached to a school.

Please find attached guidance regarding how the funding is distributed and how you are able to spend this.  Funding should be received into school budgets by the end of October and must be spent by July 2023.

Tax Free Childcare

Do you run breakfast or after school clubs, or offer wraparound care?

If you sign up to Tax Free Childcare some parents may be eligible to get extra money to help with the costs! Payments can be made directly to you from their tax free childcare account – meaning you get your payments on time!