Free School Meals Voucher - Christmas Holiday 2024
Important - Please read the following before submitting a free school meals application.
This is for pupils attending a Sandwell school and in receipt of benefit related free school meals only. For those that attend a school outside the Sandwell Metropolitan Borough, parents are advised to speak to their child’s school to see if they are supporting eligible children with a food voucher.
For pupils that are not in attendance at a Sandwell school and who are home schooled, you need to email FSM_Vouchers@sandwell.gov.uk
Deadline - Free school meal applications must be received by 19th December for those pupils attending a Sandwell school. If your claim is then successful and you are entitled to benefit related free school meals, this will ensure a food voucher can be issued by your child's school before the last day of term. Any applications received after this date will be assessed for benefit related free school meals only for when your child returns to school after the holiday, but you will not receive a food voucher if your claim is successful.
The authority is now pleased to confirm that funding will be available to support free school meals pupils with a food voucher over the Christmas holiday. This will include pupils with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) that schools have identified as having eligibility.
The government only announced an extension of the Household Support Grant a few weeks before October half-term, which, unfortunately didn’t leave enough time to make the necessary arrangements for a food voucher to be issued to those eligible for free school meals.
In recognising how difficult the Christmas period can be for families the Council will instead be providing a £60 voucher (per child) in early December (£75 for Q3 Academies) which is equivalent in value to £15 per week separate vouchers for October, Christmas, & February half-term.
Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for children and families Cllr Mohammed Jalal Uddin said: “Sandwell Council is in fact one of the few councils continuing to support families who are eligible for free school meals".
“Our Household Support Funding for the period up to the end of March 2025 has been confirmed as being over £3.4million".
“We will be using this to provide families eligible for free school meals with vouchers in December – offering financial help at what we know is often the most financially challenging period of the year for many households".
It's important to note that your child's school will again be making the arrangements to send out these vouchers, not the authority.
In addition, the food voucher scheme is only available to those who are in receipt of Free School Meals (Benefit Related) and attend a Sandwell school. It does not include children who receive a free meal under the Universal Infant Free Meals Scheme that is available to all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, regardless of parental income.
We will also still continue to offer Holiday Activities and Food during the school holidays. Eligible children can enjoy fun activities and a meal, free of charge.
For families who need extra financial support during the school holidays, help is also available on the Supporting Sandwell information hub, which includes financial advice.
Free School Meals - Criteria to qualify
Many families in Sandwell could get free school meals but don't claim for them.
Your child may be entitled to free school meals if:
- your annual income is less than £16,190; and
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you claim Child Tax Credit (*Not Including Working Tax Credit) only; and
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your child is attending a Sandwell School (if your child(ren) doesn't attend a Sandwell School, you will need to apply to the Local Authority which your child(ren) school is in)
*Please note you will not qualify for free school meals if you receive any amount of Working Tax Credit. Before applying please check your latest Tax Credit Awards Notice if you are unsure.
Your child may also qualify for free school meals if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Universal Credit - To qualify if you are in receipt of Universal Credit, your net earned income (after taxes and deductions ‘take home pay’) must be below £616 per month under the Universal Credit allowance you receive. This will be confirmed on your latest online Universal Credit statement when you received it. If your net earned income shows above the £616 figure you don’t qualify.
- Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
- Guaranteed Pension Credit (including Child Tax Credit)
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Parent's with No Recourse to Public Funds 'NRTPF' - For parent's with no recourse to public funds, you will need to apply directly at your child's school and must meet the relevant Government set eligibility groups. These can be found on the following link; NRTPF - Eligibility Criteria
Please note - If your child is eligible or becomes eligible for free school meals at any time before 31 March 2025, they will remain eligible until this date or beyond dependent on what school phase (see below) they are in. You will not need to apply for Free School Meals again if you are already eligible at a Sandwell School.
School phases
Primary - The primary phase is defined as the period Reception to Year 6. It includes both Infants and Juniors.
Secondary - The secondary phase is defined as the period from Year 7 to Year 11.
Free School Meals Privacy Notice
To view the councils full free school meals privacy notice, please click on the link below;
Free School Meals Full Privacy Notice
Reviewed and updated - June 2024. Next review - April 2025
How to apply for free school meals
The easiest way to apply for free school meals is online, just click on the button below and fill in a few details and we'll get back to you.
It is really important you read the following before applying:
Mesty Croft Academy, Rounds Green Primary School and Shenstone Lodge
Please note: If your child attends either Mesty Croft Academy, Rounds Green Primary School or Shenstone Lodge, do not apply for free school meals from Sandwell Council as you will not qualify. You will need to apply to the school directly.
Please note: If your child is eligible for free school meals after submitting your application form, you may also wish to then register your child with Holiday Activities and Food Sandwell to access free activities during the school holidays.
Contact us:
Telephone: 0121 569 8186 or 8189
Alternate contact numbers (only if you are unable to speak to a staff member in the office);
Free school meals enquiry only
07789 892214 - Monday to Friday
07385 348299 - Monday to Friday
07789 878359 - Wednesday to Friday
Home to School Transport - If your enquiry is regarding home to school travel, please call 07789 878409
Email your enquiry - Alternatively if you wish to send your enquiry by email, please email education_benefits@sandwell.gov.uk if you have any enquiries regarding free school meals or Home to School Transport. A member of the team will respond or contact you back by telephone if required.
Please ensure you check your junk folder. Unfortunately, sometimes emails that are sent to parents are received in their junk email folder.