School Meals

All food in schools must meet nutritional standards so that children have healthy, balanced diets. This means there must be:

  • High-quality meat, poultry or oily fish
  • At least 2 portions of fruit and vegetables with every meal
  • Bread, other cereals and potatoes

There can’t be:

  • Fizzy drinks, crisps, chocolate or sweets in school meals and vending machines
  • More than 2 portions of deep-fried food a week

The school meals service in school is provided through Shire Services who provides ‘a sensible approach to nutrition, and a vision for food and healthy eating in school’. The service is able to offer a meal to meet the needs of most students, including the mashing or pureeing of food for those who need it.

The cost of a school dinner is £2.60 (£13.00 per week). If you would like your child to have a school dinner please download the School Gateway app and sign up using the telephone number and email address that the school holds on the system. From there, you will be able to pay for your child's school dinners electronically.

Free School Meals

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 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.

 

Families