Food Voucher Scheme - Important Notice - Summer & Christmas Holiday 2025
We’re pleased to confirm that school holiday vouchers for children in receipt of benefit-related Free School Meals will resume following allocation of the council’s Household Support Fund funding for 2025/26.
Under new arrangements, families will receive two vouchers – one in July 2025 to cover Easter and Whitsun holidays (backdated) and the six-week summer holiday (nine weeks at £10 per week = £90).
A second voucher will be issued in December 2025 to cover October half-term (backdated) and the Christmas and February half-term holidays (four weeks at £10 per week = £40).
This is a reduction in the amount previously offered – from £15 per week to £10 per week – because this round of HSF funding received is lower and is aimed at tackling different priorities. However, Sandwell Council remains one of the few local authorities to still offer these vouchers to support families during the school holidays.
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 16th July 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 for the summer holiday can be issued by your child's school before the last day of term. Any applications received after this date you will not receive a food voucher if your claim is successful.
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
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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'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 the end of the 2025/26 academic year in July 2026, 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 government update on free school meals guidance for the 2026/27 academic year
From the start of the 2026/27 school year, the Department for Education will introduce new eligibility criteria meaning that all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit will be entitled to receive a free meal. It is our intention to end transitional protections alongside this change in threshold, with eligibility for all pupils reverting to whether they meet the eligibility criteria regardless of whether they were previously protected. We will issue further guidance ahead of September 2026.
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 2025. Next review - April 2026
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
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.