Finance and Payments
If you need any information or have any queries on any financial matters regarding your child’s education, the finance team can be contacted by:
Telephone: 01297 32146
E-mail: admin@axevalley.bep.ac
Payments
All payment for School Meals, Trips, Activities and additional resources can be paid for through the Arbor parent app.
You can access Arbor, where you will be able to manage your account, make payments and view your child’s meal choices.
If you do not have a login for the Arbor parent app please contact the school.
Free School Meals
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
Income Support
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
the guarantee element of Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
If you do not qualify for most benefits (also known as “having no recourse to public funds”) your child may still be eligible for free school meals, you will need to ask the local authority whether they are eligible.
How to apply for Free School Meals
Please follow the links below to find out more:
for families living in Devon
Website - Free school meals - Support for schools (devon.gov.uk)
Phone - 0345 155 1019
for families living in Somerset
Website - Free school meals (somerset.gov.uk)
Email - fsm@somerset.gov.uk
Phone - 0300 123 2224
for families living in Dorset
Website - Dorset Council self-service portal
Email - freeschoolmeals@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Phone - 01305 221 090
Crisis and Resilience Fund
Since the pandemic, the Government has provided extra funding to Councils to help families with the cost of living and this Household Support Fund has helped to support low income families with the cost of food during school holidays. This is now coming to an end and the final payments of £11 per week vouchers with be made for the Easter holidays in April 2026. The new Crisis and Resilience Fund starts from 1st April 2026 and further information can be found here Funding, money and debt - Cost of living