Read the latest update from Knowsley Council regarding Free School Meals
The LA have opted to change the FSM voucher provider to the provider endorsed by the government. This means that things are going to look different over the summer holidays to what what our FSM voucher parents are used to. Our intention is to download the vouchers and post them to parents, the vouchers will come in two batches of £45 from The Prescot School rather than one voucher for £90 as some schools have opted to do. The letter below is from the leader of the local council explaining the reasons for the change that is happening.
For more information and a full explanation, please read the following letter from the Local Authority here
Read an update from Knowsley Council on arrangements for Free School Meals during the May Half Term, posted on 19th May 2020: https://www.knowsleynews.co.uk/half-term-free-school-meals-update/
Read our update letter from 12th May 2020: Free School Meals Letter May 2020
This includes information about who may be eligible for Free School Meals or additional support during these unprecedented times. If your family is struggling with money for food and other essentials please contact Knowsley Council to find out more about support that is available.
Knowsley Council have published a set of frequently asked questions (last updated on 9th April), available to download here. If you have any queries please check these in the first instance.
Update on Free School Meals – 31st March 2020:
- If your child is entitled to FSM you will have received either a text message or email from WONDE
- Parents must respond to the message and nominate a supermarket, ASDA TESCO, MORRISONS, SAINSBURYS are the current choices
- If you do not respond you cannot receive a voucher.
- If you have not received a message from WONDE either by text or email and your child is entitled to free school meals please email info@prescotschool.org.uk and confirm your contact details.
- Knowsley Council have published a set of frequently asked questions, available to download here. If you have any queries please check these in the first instance.
- Some additional frequently asked questions for parents can be found here:
http://help.wonde.com/en/articles/3843162-faqs-for-parents-supermarket-voucher
Letter to Parents regarding Free School Meals – 26th March 2020:
As you are aware, school sites are now closed to the majority of children and staff and are operating only as a last resort as emergency childcare centres for those key children identified by the Government. In line with Government guidance, Knowsley Council has worked tirelessly to be able to help support you to provide free school meals for your child during these unprecedented times. Thank you for your patience whilst we work to resolve such matters.
If your child currently receives free school meals and is not attending school during this period of time, Knowsley Council has made arrangements for you to receive food vouchers via a partnership with Wonde.com. These vouchers will be sent once a fortnight, in the first instance via TEXT or EMAIL to your mobile phone. Knowsley Council will fund this service until a Central Government scheme is up and running. For Primary School Pupils the voucher will have a value of £32.20 and for Secondary School Pupils the voucher will have a value of £32.90.
You will shortly receive a text message from Wonde to confirm which supermarket you would like to use your voucher in. The supermarkets currently available are ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s (however Wonde are adding more in the near future).
If you have any questions about the message that you receive from Wonde, or if you believe you should have received a message from Wonde and haven’t, please contact the school office by the end of Friday 27th March 2020. Further updates about the scheme will be provided shortly both via Knowsley News (www.knowsleynews.co.uk), the school website and social media.
Update on Free School Meals – 20th March 2020:
Information regarding Free School Meals vouchers has now been issued to families who are eligible. If you have provided us with an email address this information will have been sent to that address, please check your spam/junk email folders if the message isn’t in your inbox.
School Closure Letter to Parents 20th March 2020
NEW: freephone number now launched in Knowsley: 0800 073 0043
Knowsley Council have set up a Community Support and Volunteer Line.
This is designed to help Knowsley residents who need additional support during the outbreak and also coordinate offers of help for those who are wanting to volunteer their time or services to help those in need in their local community.
Anyone needing support can call freephone 0800 073 0043 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm at weekends.
Knowsley Council Early Help Hub
We know that some families may be finding it stressful and harder to cope during these difficult times. We don’t want people to struggle and we have a team of staff who can talk you through any issues and offer you some advice and guidance.
Contact the Freephone helpline on 0800 073 0043 and ask for your information to be passed onto the Early Help Hub and one of our staff will call you back.
Or you could complete the online form by clicking the ‘ask for help and support’ link on this web link: https://www.knowsleynews.co.uk/community-hub/
Young Minds Telephone Support for Parents
Young Minds are providing telephone support to parents concerned about their child’s mental health.
Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544 (Mon – Fri 9.30am-4pm)
They also provide a 24/7 Crisis Text message service.
Parents can text: ‘YM’ to 85258 and they will be texted back.
Gas and Electricity
For families who are on a pre-paid meter for gas and electricity please contact the numbers listed below, and they will top up accounts of families in self isolation:
British Gas – 0333 2020 9802
EDF – 0333 200 5100
N Power – 0800 073 3000
Scottish Power – 0800 027 0072
SSE 0345 026 2658
Support from StepChange
StepChange is a dedicated charity that provides lots of advice on debt as well as further information to help anyone who is affected by coronavirus:
https://stepchange.org
