Dear Parents
Some of you may have read in the press about vouchers being offered to children, to replace free school meals. I am just posting this message to explain exactly what this means, as I think there is a lot of confusion.
The vouchers are planned to be given to those families who are in receipt of means-tested (benefit related) Free School Meals – if you are one of those families we have already contacted you (and we will contact you again once we know more). It is not for children who are in Reception or Key Stage 1 who are entitled to Universal Free School Meals (e.g. where the children can have a school dinner for free while they are young).
As yet, the voucher scheme is not available in Gateshead Local Authority. Some academies and some other schools have organised their own system of vouchers. This may be what the press are describing. We are awaiting the official voucher scheme from the Government which will be supported by the Local Authority. In the meantime, we, as a school, are continuing to provide and deliver packed lunches to those children who are entitled under the means-tested scheme.
If you believe that you may be entitled to means-tested free school meals but have not alerted to the office to this before, I would draw your attention to the following guidance from the LA website (below) before contacting us. If you believe you are entitled (following the guidance below) then contact us, however, please be advised, that even if you apply and are successful there is always a delay in the benefit being made available (and this delay is not down to the school). Thank you.
Your child may qualify for means-tested free school meals if you meet the following criteria:
- you or your partner receive child benefit (for the child you are applying for), and
- the child is in full time education, under 19 years of age, and
- the child attends a local authority school or sixth form (but not a sixth form college). If your child attends nursery, attendance must be full-time and your child must attend before and after lunch in a nursery run by Gateshead Council.
You and your partner must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA – IB)
- Guarantee Pension Credit
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA Income Related)
- Child Tax Credit – but not Working Tax Credit – and your income for Tax Credit purposes must be less than £16,190.00 (details are shown on your Tax Credit award notice)
- Working Tax Credit Run-on
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Universal Credit and your net earned family income is less than £7,400.
Receipt of one of the above benefits will be checked with the relevant government departments (HMRC, DWP and Home Office) and this may be done via the Eligibility Checking Service.