Food Vouchers during the school holidays

If your child is registered for free school meals in Sutton, you can get a food voucher during the school holidays.

This scheme is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions. The Council has used this funding to set up a household support fund. This helps families in Sutton who are facing financial hardship. 

Check if you’re eligible

You can apply for food vouchers if:

• your child goes to a school in Sutton and is registered for Free School Meals (FSM) 
• You have a child attending an Early Years setting in Sutton for their free childcare entitlement and,
  • the child is aged 2 and taking up their free entitlement in a Sutton setting OR,
  • the child is aged 3 or 4 and is registered for the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
• you are resident in Sutton who would be eligible for free school meals under the current criteria but your child is electively home-educated or in Education somewhere  other than at school

Your school can tell you if you have already registered your child for free school meals or not.  They can also help you to apply if you think you might be eligible.

How much you could get

Vouchers are available during the school holiday and the value available is listed below. 

• May half term 2023 – £15
• Summer break 2023 – £90
• October Half term  2023 – £15
• Christmas break 2023 – £30
• February half term 2024 – £15

How to apply for food vouchers

If your child is registered for Free School meals

If your child is already registered for free school meals, you won’t need to apply for food vouchers. Your school will send out vouchers to eligible families directly, before each holiday period. 

We have asked schools to distribute vouchers to eligible pupils by the following dates for the holiday period below:

• May half term  by 26 May
• Summer break by 21 July
• October Half term  by 20 October
• Christmas break  by 22 December
• February half term by 9 February

You should contact your child’s school if you haven’t received your voucher by the date shown in this table. 

Children who are in pre-school or are being educated at home 

If your child doesn’t attend school but you are eligible to apply, you will need to apply for a food voucher before the school holiday period.

This might apply to you if your child is:

• pre-school age
• home educated

If you’re not sure if you are eligible, you can send us an email for more information  

You’ll need to decide which supermarket you want your voucher to be for. Food vouchers are available for:

• Tesco
• Asda
• Sainsbury’s
• Waitrose
• Aldi
• Morrisons
• Iceland 

You’ll receive a link to the voucher by email from either their school or the Council.

Children aged 2 years old

You will be entitled to food vouchers if your child is 2 years old and taking up the free childcare entitlement in a Sutton early years setting such as:

• a day nursery
• a pre-school
• a childminder

Get more information about free childcare for 2-year-olds and check if your child is eligible.

You can apply using the food voucher application form  

You need to complete the application form during the dates shown below: 

• May half term 2023 apply between the 8 May and 24 May 2023
• Summer break 2023 apply between 3 July and 19 July 2023
• October Half term  2023 apply between 9 October and 25 October 2023
• Christmas break 2023 apply between 4 December and 20 December
• February half term 2024 apply between 22 January and 7 February  2024

Get more information about free childcare for 2-year-olds and check if your child is eligible.

Children aged 3 or 4 years old

If your child is 3 or 4 years old, you can apply for food vouchers if they:

• attend a Sutton early years setting
• are registered for Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

You can check whether your child is registered for EYPP with their childcare provider.

Complete the Food Voucher application form. 

You need to complete the application form during the dates shown below: 

• May half term 2023 apply between the 8 May and 24 May 2023
• Summer break 2023  apply between 3 July and 19 July 2023
• October Half term  2023  apply between 9 October and 25 October 2023
• Christmas break 2023  apply between 4 December and 20 December
• February half term 2024  apply between 22 January and 7 February  2024

If you don’t qualify for food vouchers

If you do not qualify for food vouchers, there is additional support available on our website. You can:

• visit our cost of living campaign 
• contact Sutton Food Bank
• find out if you are eligible to apply to our hardship fund