School Meals
Swalwell Primary is partnered with Gateshead Council's catering department to deliver healthy, fresh meals to pupils every day. We have a varied choice from hot meals and baked potatoes to wraps, salad, and special diet meals.
The cost of the school meal is £2.75 for school-aged children, Year 3-6, adults £3.72, and nursery children £2.10 (April 26). School subsidises the cost of meals, so the full cost from Gateshead Council is not passed on to families.
May 26 Changes to FSM and eligibility
Dear Parent/Carer,
We want to make you aware of important changes to Free School Meals (FSM) from September 2026.
✅ What’s changing?
- All families receiving Universal Credit will be eligible
- The current £7,400 earnings limit is being removed (see details further down the page)
- This means many more families may now qualify
⚠️ If your child already receives FSM:
- Current“protected” free meals will end in July 2026
- You may need to reconfirm your eligibility
- The school will need to run updated checks with the council
✅ If you think you may now qualify:
You must apply – this is not automatic
Please contact the school office and we will:
- Take your details
- Check your eligibility with the council
- Confirm the outcome with you
👶 Important reminder (Reception–Year 2 pupils)
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 receive free meals automatically, but:
- This is not the same as FSM eligibility
- From Year 3, meals must be paid for unless you qualify
👉 We strongly encourage all eligible families to apply.
If you need any help or advice, please contact the school office — we are happy to help confidentially.
The deadline to complete the paperwork will be Friday, 10th July 26, to allow the school office to verify eligibility.
Kind regards,
Swalwell Primary School
Links to more information Free School Meals 2026: Who Qualifies and What Else It Unlocks — FamilyEntitled
The £7,400 figure trips people up. It's your net earned income — wages and self-employment income after tax — not your total household income. Benefits don't count toward it. So a family on UC with a part-time job earning £6,000 net qualifies, even if their total household income, including UC payments, is £20,000+.
It won't happen automatically. The council will not send a letter. You must contact the school as soon as possible.
One important catch: if you were previously protected under transitional rules — meaning you qualified for Free School Meals before the UC income cap was introduced and have been protected since — that protection ends in August 2026. From September you'll need to qualify under the new criteria actively. For most families, this won't be an issue, but check your position before the end of the school year.
👉 School office 0191 433 4000 or Free school meals - Gateshead Council