Free school meal holiday food vouchers in 2025
As decisions have still yet to be made on if, or when, the council will continue to fund supermarket vouchers for children in receipt of benefit-related Free School Meals, this means no vouchers will be issued for the May half-term week holiday.
We will update schools and our website when decisions on the future funding of the vouchers have been made.
If you are struggling and need extra financial support during the school holidays, help and advice is available on our 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
-
you claim Child Tax Credit (*Not Including Working Tax Credit) only; and
-
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's or children's 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 Job seekers 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.
Important update on free school meals guidance from 1 April 2025
From 1 April 2025, the Government's transitional protection arrangements for means tested Free School Meals (FSM) will end. Any eligible claims confirmed from this date will no longer be protected. This means any child confirmed as eligible for free school meals from 1 April 2025 will be subject to ongoing checks to confirm continued eligibility. This will not impact any children who are already confirmed as eligible. Those already confirmed as eligible will maintain their eligibility until the end of their current school phase of education (see above). At that point, they will be re-assessed for their eligibility status. This will apply to all year 6 moving into year 7 in September 2025. These children will then be subject to ongoing checks to confirm continued eligibility.
It is important to remind all parents and legal guardians who do not have a current claim or eligibility for FSM to apply for FSM between now and the end of March 2025 if they think their child may be eligible, to ensure their claim and future funding are protected. Only applications processed before 1 April 2025 will maintain transitional protection.
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:
George Betts Primary Academy, Mesty Croft Academy, Rounds Green Primary School and Shenstone Lodge
Please note: If your child attends either George Betts Primary Academy, 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 educationbenefits@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.