Catering at Emmanuel College
At Emmanuel College we are passionate about food and committed to prioritising our children’s health and well-being. We have banished lumpy gravy, abolished soggy sprouts and eradicated anything even resembling Turkey Twizzlers from our menus. We are fanatical about finding the freshest and tastiest ingredients and combining them to create delicious, healthy meals.
The meals we provide are an excellent source of nutrition, with an emphasis on homemade, high quality fresh food, sourced locally. In addition, having school lunch as opposed to a packed lunch helps young people develop confidence to make appropriate menu choices and taste a range of different foods. We operate a cashless meal system to avoid singling out students who receive free school meals.
Please click on the link to download the menu of hot meals currently being served in our Restaurants:
Cashless Meal System
Every student has a meal account and a student ID card. Money must be credited to the student’s account before any purchases can be made; this can be done via ParentPay. Where students qualify for free school meals the appropriate amount is credited automatically each day.
At lunchtime, the till operator uses a touch screen terminal, which displays a photo image of each child and records the meal they have chosen that day. Where students have special dietary requirements they can be highlighted and entered confidentially into the system. Students’ meal details are recorded each day, which allows parents the facility to monitor their child’s eating habits, should they wish.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will I pay for my child’s school meal?
School meals are normally paid for using the school’s ParentPay facility.
Do I qualify for Free School Meals?
Expanded entitlement for families on Universal Credit
From September 2026, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals, regardless of earnings. Going forward, there will be two types of eligibility:
- Targeted FSM: for households in receipt of Universal Credit earning £7,400 or less.
- Expanded FSM: for households in receipt of Universal Credit earning above £7,400
Families with no recourse to public funds may also be eligible for Targeted FSM subject to meeting separate criteria.
End of transitional protections
Since 2018, some children have continued to receive free school meals, even if their family circumstances changed during the rollout of Universal Credit. This is referred to as transitional protections. These protections will end in July 2026 and entitlement is being expanded to all families on Universal Credit.
From September 2026 some children may no longer be eligible if their family does not receive Universal Credit or another qualifying benefit. Eligibility will now be based on current benefit status.
What you need to do:
If your child currently receives free school meals, in most cases, you do not need to reapply. Gateshead Council complete FSM checks on behalf of Emmanuel College and will check your eligibility automatically using the details already held and inform you of any changes to your FSM eligibility. If you are unsure, please contact the Benefits team at Gateshead Council for advice on benefitsfsm@gateshead.gov.uk.
If your child does not currently receive free school meals, you may now be eligible under the Expanded FSM criteria. You will need to apply using this link Gateshead Council – Apply for free school meals. If you are unsure whether you need to apply or if your circumstances have changed, please contact the Benefits team at Gateshead Council for advice on benefitsfsm@gateshead.gov.uk.
How will I keep track of the amount of cash in my child’s account?
Statements can be generated on request, or you can check online using the ParentPay facility. Please contact the Finance Office for more information.
What happens if my child is away from school?
No meal deduction will be made in a child’s absence.
