Changes to Free School Meal entitlement

FSM information

Notice - Government Changes to Free School Meals (FSM)

Dear Families

We have recently contacted all parents / carers that we were aware of that the following changes may affect.

As such, this information acts as both a reminder but also new information to anyone who may not have kept details up-to-date on our system and therefore may not know about the Government changes to Free School Meals.

Please be aware that from September 2026, the Government will introduce substantial changes to Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility.

Under new national criteria, all families in receipt of Universal Credit will qualify for free school meals, this means that more students will become eligible for a Free School Meal.

From September 2026, there will be two categories of benefit-related FSM.

1. Targeted Free School Meals:

This category continues to be based on the existing income threshold. Students will be eligible if their household;

· Is in receipt of Universal Credit, and

· Has an annual household income of £7,400 or less.

2. Expanded Free School Meals:

This category applies to pupils who:

· Live in households receiving Universal Credit, and

· Have an annual household income above £7,400.

It is the “expanded” FSM offer that is new, but, historic eligibility is unfortunately changing so please read below.

Am I still eligible?

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, some pupils will no longer be eligible for a Free School Meal. Households must currently be in receipt of Universal Credit.

Checks will be completed by the Local Authority ahead of the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year. This is to allow all pupils to be ready to receive FSM from the start of the autumn term when we return in September. Pupils will not be awarded a Free School Meal if they do not have a valid recheck of eligibility.

This means that if you have been eligible for a Free School Meal in the past 6 years but your status has changed and are no longer in receipt of Universal Credit, unfortunately, the Government is likely to withdraw your right to a Free School Meal for your child unless you meet other criteria below.

Who else may be entitled to a Free School Meal?

Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:

· Universal Credit

· support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal where both:

· a claim for this support has been made

· their eligibility has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority

Households may also be entitled to a meal if they:

· are in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance

· receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit

· meet criteria set out in the guidance: families with no recourse to public funds

Your individual status / eligibility will now be reviewed on an annual basis.

Please do not miss out on support that you may be entitled to for your child please seek further guidance at https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals.

Yours sincerely

Mr T Conway

Head Teacher

Norham High School

YOU DO NOT need to reapply if you have already previously applied for Free School Meals, but your entitlement may have changed.

Apply / Check eligibility HERE (for those who have not previously applied)

or email questions to Student.Support@northtyneside.gov.uk

Free School Meals (FSM)

Applications can be taken over the telephone by calling (0191) 643 2288 or by clicking on the link below.

Apply for Free School Meals (FSM) here

For all those students claiming FSM, the FSM allowance will be added to the new School Gateway app on a daily basis.

The FSM allowance is issued ONCE daily - any unspent allowance clears at the end of the day (it does not accumulate).

Please contact schoolmeals@norhamhigh.org with any issues about school meals

Free School Meals (FSM) Holiday Vouchers

Archived Information - for your reference only

Free School Meal Vouchers Christmas 2023

Click for information (for reference only)

All FSM families (eligible and registered for FSM before 15/12/2023) will receive £30 per child, to provide support for food over the Christmas holiday 2023.

The voucher will be sent, via email, on Monday 18/12/2023

The codes will be emailed from the EdenRed system

This is a one off grant.

Once you receive your code, it must then be exchanged for a gift card (by 20/01/2024) for your chosen retailer via the EdenRed website (details on the email you receive) or the entitlement will be lost.

Please email norhamfsmecode@gmail.com if you wish to update your email address.

Please include your name and your child's full name and date of birth.

Any issues with the codes (not being received etc) must be sent to participation@northtyneside.gov.uk - please do not email the school.

For those families who have missed the deadline when registering for free school meals, please contact the Welfare support teams on

0191 6432777 (choose option 2).

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

Free School Meal Vouchers October half-term 2023

Click for information (for reference only)

All FSM families (eligible and registered for FSM before 27/10/2023) will receive £15 per child, to provide support for food over the October half-term holiday 2023.

The voucher will be sent, via email, on Monday 30/10/2023

The codes will be emailed from the EdenRed system

This is a one off grant.

Once you receive your code, it must then be exchanged for a gift card (by 10/11/2023) for your chosen retailer via the EdenRed website (details on the email you receive) or the entitlement will be lost.

Please email norhamfsmecode@gmail.com if you wish to update your email address.

Please include your name and your child's full name and date of birth.

Any issues with the codes (not being received etc) must be sent to participation@northtyneside.gov.uk - please do not email the school.

For those families who have missed the deadline when registering for free school meals, please contact the Welfare support teams on

0191 6432777 (choose option 2).

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

Summer holidays 2023 Free School Meal Vouchers

Click for information (for reference only)

The voucher will be sent, via email, on Monday 24/07/2023

The codes will be emailed from the EdenRed system

This is a one off grant.

Once you receive your code, it must then be exchanged for a gift card (by 01/09/2023) for your chosen retailer via the EdenRed website (details on the email you receive) or the entitlement will be lost.

Please email norhamfsmecode@gmail.com if you wish to update your email address BEFORE 17/07/2023

Please include your name and your child's full name and date of birth.

Any issues with the codes (not being received etc) must be sent to participation@northtyneside.gov.uk - please do not email the school.

For those families who have missed the deadline when registering for free school meals, please contact the Welfare support teams on

0191 6432777 (choose option 2).

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

May half-term 2023 Free School Meal Vouchers

Click for information (for reference only)

All FSM families (eligible and registered for FSM before 22/05/2023) will receive £15, per child, to provide support for food over the May half-term 2023.

The voucher will be sent, via email, on Monday 29/05/2023

The codes will be emailed from the EdenRed system

This is a one off grant.

Once you receive your code, it must then be exchanged for a gift card (by 09/06/2023) for your chosen retailer via the EdenRed website (details on the email you receive) or the entitlement will be lost.

Please email norhamfsmecode@gmail.com if you wish to update your email address.

Please include your name and your child's full name and date of birth.

Any issues with the codes (not being received etc) must be sent to participation@northtyneside.gov.uk - please do not email the school.

For those families who have missed the deadline when registering for free school meals, please contact the Welfare support teams on

0191 6432777 (choose option 2).

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

Easter holidays 2023 Free School Meal Vouchers

Click for information (for reference only)

All FSM families (eligible and registered for FSM before 10/02/2023) will receive £15, per child, to provide support for food over the February half-term 2023.

The voucher will be sent, via email, on Monday 20/02/2023 (please note date change)

The codes will be emailed from the EdenRed system

This is a one off grant.

Once you receive your code, it must then be exchanged for a gift card (by 06/03/2023) for your chosen retailer via the EdenRed website (details on the email you receive) or the entitlement will be lost.

Please email norhamfsmecode@gmail.com if you wish to update your email address.

Please include your name and your child's full name and date of birth.

Any issues with the codes (not being received etc) must be sent to participation@northtyneside.gov.uk - please do not email the school.

For those families who have missed the deadline when registering for free school meals, please contact the Welfare support teams on

0191 6432777 (choose option 2).

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

February half-term 2023 Free School Meal Vouchers

Click for information (for reference only)

All FSM families (eligible and registered for FSM before 10/02/2023) will receive £15, per child, to provide support for food over the February half-term 2023.

The voucher will be sent, via email, on Monday 20/02/2023 (please note date change)

The codes will be emailed from the EdenRed system

This is a one off grant.

Please email norhamfsmecode@gmail.com if you wish to update your email address.

Please include your name and your child's full name and date of birth.

Any issues with the codes (not being received etc) must be sent to participation@northtyneside.gov.uk - please do not email the school.

For those families who have missed the deadline when registering for free school meals, please contact the Welfare support teams on

0191 6432777 (choose option 2).

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

Christmas holidays 2022 Free School Meal Vouchers

Click for information (for reference only)

All FSM families (eligible and registered for FSM before Dec'22) received £30, per child, to provide support for clothing and shoes over the 2022 Christmas holidays.

The voucher was sent, via email, on Friday 02/12/2022

The codes will be emailed from the EdenRed system

This is a one off grant.

Once you receive your code, it must then be exchanged for a gift card (by 31/12/2022) for your chosen retailer via the EdenRed website (details on the email you receive) or the entitlement will be lost.

Please email norhamfsmecode@gmail.com if you wish to update your email address.

Please include your name and your child's full name and date of birth.

Any issues with the codes (not being received etc) must be sent to participation@northtyneside.gov.uk - please do not email the school.

For those families who have missed the deadline when registering for free school meals, please contact the Welfare support teams on

0191 6432777 (choose option 2).

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

Winter Clothes/shoes fund 2022 Vouchers

Click for information (for reference only)

All FSM families (eligible and registered for FSM before 25/11/2022) received £45, per child, to provide support for clothing and shoes over the winter period 22/23.

The voucher was sent, via email, on Friday 02/12/2022

The codes will be emailed from the EdenRed system

This is a one off grant.

Please email norhamfsmecode@gmail.com if you wish to update your email address.

Please include your name and your child's full name and date of birth.

Any issues with the codes (not being received etc) must be sent to participation@northtyneside.gov.uk - please do not email the school.

For those families who have missed the deadline when registering for free school meals, please contact the Welfare support teams on

0191 6432777 (choose option 2).

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

October half-term 2022 Free School Meal Vouchers

This scheme has now closed - Click for information (for reference only)

The voucher was sent, via email, on Monday 24/10/2022 (not Friday 21/10/22 as originally stated)

The codes were sent, via email from the EdenRed system

This is a one off grant.

Once you receive your code, it must then be exchanged for a gift card (by 04/11/2022) for your chosen retailer via the EdenRed website (details on the email you receive) or the entitlement will be lost.

Please email norhamfsmecode@gmail.com if you wish to update your email address.

Please include your name and your child's full name and date of birth.

Any issues with the codes (not being received etc) must be sent to participation@northtyneside.gov.uk - please do not email the school during the holidays.

For those families who have missed the deadline when registering for free school meals, please contact the Welfare support teams on

0191 6432777 (choose option 2).

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

Summer holiday July/August 2022 Free School Meal Vouchers

This scheme has now closed - Click for information (for reference only)

All FSM families (eligible and registered for FSM before 15/07/2022) received £90, per child, to cover the six weeks summer 2022 holiday.

The voucher was sent on Friday 22/07/2022

The codes were emailed from the EdenRed system

This is a one off grant.

Once you receive your code, it must then be exchanged for a gift card (by 09/09/2022) for your chosen retailer via the EdenRed website (details on the email you receive) or the entitlement will be lost.

Please contact the school by the 18th July if you believe your email address is out of date.

Any issues with the codes (not being received etc) must be sent to participation@northtyneside.gov.uk - please do not email the school during the holidays.

For those families who have missed the deadline when registering for free school meals, please contact the Welfare support teams on

0191 6432777 (choose option 2).

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

May half-term 2022 Free School Meal Vouchers

This scheme has now closed - Click for information (for reference only)

All FSM families (eligible and registered for FSM before 26/05/2022) received a code for a £15 voucher, per child, to cover the May half-term 2022 holiday.

The email was sent from EdenRed system on Friday 27/05/2022.

This is a one off grant.

Once you receive your code, it must then be exchanged for a gift card (by 10/06/2022) for your chosen retailer via the EdenRed website (details on the email you receive).

Codes MUST be converted to vouchers before June 10th 2022 or the entitlement will be lost.

Please contact the school if you believe your email address is out of date.

For those families who have missed the deadline when registering for free school meals, please contact the Welfare support teams on

0191 6432777 (choose option 2).

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

Easter holidays 2022 Free School Meal Vouchers

This scheme has now closed - Click for information (for reference only)

All FSM families (eligible and registered for FSM before 06/04/2022) received a code for a £30 voucher, per child, to cover the April Easter 2022 holiday.

The email with the code was sent from EdenRed on Friday 08/04/2022.

This is a one off grant.

Once you receive your code, it can then be exchanged for a gift card (by 29/04/2022) for your chosen retailer via the EdenRed website (details on the email you receive).

Codes MUST be converted to vouchers before April 29th 2022 or the entitlement will be lost.

For those families who have missed the deadline when registering for free school meals, please contact the Welfare support teams on

0191 6432777 (choose option 2).

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

February half-term 2022 Free School Meal Vouchers

This scheme has now closed - Click for information (for reference only)

All FSM families (eligible and registered for FSM before 18/02/2022) received a code for a £15 voucher, per child, to cover the February 2022 half-term holiday.

The email was sent from EdenRed a on Monday 21/02/22.

This is a one off grant.

The code can then be exchanged for a gift card for your chosen retailer via the EdenRed website.

Any issues with the codes (not being received etc) must be sent to participation@northtyneside.gov.uk - please do not email the school.

Codes MUST be converted to vouchers before March 7th 2022 or the entitlement will be lost.

For those families who have missed the deadline when registering for free school meals, please contact the Welfare support teams on

0191 6432777 (choose option 2).

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

Christmas holidays 2021 Free School Meal Vouchers

This scheme has now closed - Click for information (for reference only)

All FSM families (eligible and registered for FSM before 29/11/21) have been emailed a code for a £30 voucher, per child, to cover the two week Christmas 2021 holiday.

The code can then be exchanged for a gift card for your chosen retailer via the EdenRed website.

Any issues with the codes (not being received etc) must be sent to participation@northtyneside.gov.uk - please do not email the school.

Codes MUST be converted to vouchers before January 10th 2022 or the entitlement will be lost.

This is a one off grant.

For those families who have missed the deadline when registering for free school meals, please contact the Welfare support teams on

0191 6432777 (choose option 2).

This team can support eligible families if they are struggling financially.

This is for North Tyneside Residents only.

October half-term 2021 Free School Meal Vouchers

This scheme has now closed - Click for information (for reference only)

Free School Meals October Half-term voucher 2021

Please be aware the codes expired on Friday 12th November 2021.

After this date codes will not be able to be converted to a gift card and the entitlement will be lost.

All FSM families (eligible and registered for FSM before 11/10/21) received a £15 voucher, per child, to cover the October 2021 half-term holiday

A code was emailed to the address we have on our system during the w/b 25/10/2021

The code can then be exchanged for a gift card for your chosen retailer via the EdenRed website.

This is the same system that has been used since April 2020, so hopefully it will be easy.

Any issues with the codes (not being received etc) must be sent to participation@northtyneside.gov.uk - please do not email the school.

This is a one off grant.

Summer holiday July/August 2021 Free School Meal Vouchers

This scheme has now closed - Click for information (for reference only)

To cover 7 weeks, of £15 per week, per student - the payments have been made in two lump sums, via EMAIL

£55 on the 19/07/2021

£50 on the 09/08/2021

which covers 7 weeks.

This is a one off grant.

As before, codes have been issued via email and redeemed through the Edenred online system.

Please check your emails on the dates above, if you do not receive your code on the dates above, please email

participation@northtyneside.gov.uk

If you have used your code and not received the voucher you will need to speak to Edenred, we can not sort any issues once the code has been used.

The Local Authority can deal with issues 9.30-10.30 and again 15.30-16.30 Monday to Thursday.

Queries will be dealt with in the order that they come into the inbox so it is important that families contact us as soon as they realise they have a problem.

The vouchers are to cover food over the summer holidays and must be used in this period.

Any vouchers not downloaded by the first week of term will be cancelled and can't be reinstated.

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