Free school meals help children get a healthy meal at school.
If your child can get free school meals, they can have a school meal without you paying for it. From September 2026, more children will be able to get free school meals.
What is changing from September 2026?
From September 2026, all children in households that get Universal Credit will be able to get a free school meal. This applies if they go to a school covered by the national rules. Transitional protection ends at the end of the 2025 to 2026 school year. This means families must meet the rules from September 2026 to keep getting free school meals.
The two types of benefits-based Free School Meals
There will be 2 types of benefits-based free school meals from September 2026.
- Targeted FSM: for children in households that get Universal Credit and have annual earned income of £7,400 or less. This is used for Ever 6 FSM and Pupil Premium.
- Expanded FSM: for children in households that get Universal Credit but do not meet the Targeted FSM income rule. These children can get a free meal, but they are not counted in Ever 6 FSM for Pupil Premium.
Who can get Free School Meals?
Your child may be able to get free school meals if they go to a maintained school, academy, free school, maintained nursery school, school-based nursery, or non-maintained special school, and your household gets a qualifying benefit.
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, if you do not get Working Tax Credit and your yearly gross income is £16,190 or less
- Working Tax Credit run-on, paid for 4 weeks after you stop getting Working Tax Credit
Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM)
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 at a government-funded school can get a free school meal. This is called Universal Infant Free School Meals. You do not need to get a benefit to get this.
If your child gets Universal Infant Free School Meals, you should still apply for benefits-based free school meals if you may be able to get them. This can help your child’s school get extra funding.
Families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)
Some children in families with No Recourse to Public Funds may still be able to get free school meals. This depends on the rules and income limits. Please contact the Council if you are not sure.
Why it is important to apply
Applying can help your child and their school. Your child may get a free meal, and the school may get extra funding to support pupils.
How to apply
You can apply through your child(ren) by contacting your school office. You will need your National Insurance number or National Asylum Support Service reference number and also your date of birth, surname, and details about your child.
Annual eligibility checks
Schools and local authorities will check free school meals records each year. Checks should be done before the October school census. This helps make sure children get the right support from the start of term.
Further information
For national guidance, visit the GOV.UK website.